758 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



remarkable for early maturity, the quality of the mutton of the Shropshire is superior, 

 and only to be excelled by that of the Southdown. 



While the sheep itself has considerable constitutional vi^or and is said to bear a damp 

 soil and humid climate, Shropshire hoggets are seldom mature until April or May, when 

 they weigh from 18 to 20 pounds per quarter. The ewes are much more prolilic than 

 Hampshires or Southdowus, and often 50 per cent, of doubles has followed liberal man- 

 agement. 



The Sou1Mowns.TbQ Southdown stands ahead of either of the two preceding breeds 

 in respect to purity of blood, there being probably none more so; still it has always been 

 a marked feature of the breed that it is susceptible to varieties of type. This, however, 

 is attributable to change of pastures, not to any cross of blood. 



On the fertile grass lands of Norfolk, Berks, and some other counties, Southdowns 

 have increased their size and become much larger than those which have been propagated 

 for countless generations on their native Sussex hills. Southdowns are the pride of 

 most show-yards, but are regarded in few districts nowadays as wealthy tenant farmers, 

 rent-paying sheep. Still no variety of sheep has been more improved in its native 

 county. Originally from 12 to 14 pounds per quarter was considered heavy weight for 

 a two-year-old wether, the fleece having been only 2 pounds in weight. Now the prod- 

 uct of wool is about doubled, and the wether hogget feeds to nearly 18 pounds per 

 quarter at eighteen months old. 



There are some good flocks of Southdowns in Dorset and Gloucestershire, no less than 

 in their native county, as also in Norfolk, Cambs, and Berks. 



Their characteristics are as follows: The bone is small, the body thick and cylindrical, 

 the ears wide apart. Both the ears and forehead are well covered with wool, which 

 forms a protection from fly. The eye is full, bright, and quick ; the chest wide, deep, and 

 projecting; the back flat to the tail, which is set on high; the hind legs are very full on 

 the insides and wide apart. 



The Southdown, when crossed with long-wooled sheep, produce an animal having a 

 large frame and yielding excellent mutton. The fleece is short, curly, and fine. The 

 wool may be classed amongst the finest qualities, and is the shortest staple wool of Great 

 Britain. It is now used chiefly mixed with Australian wools. 



On the subject of Southdowns I transmit with this report tw; valuable papers as iu- 

 closures, first (inclosure No. 3), a paper entitled "Southdown sheep, their history, 

 breeding and management," read by Mr. Henry Woods, of Merton Thetford, before the 

 Institute of Agriculture, at the South Kensington Museum, March, 1884; and second 

 (inclosure No. 4), a paper on Southdowns and Cambridgeshire farming, which gives a 

 succinct history of the celebrated Babraham flock of modern Southdowns. 



The Suffolk Downs. The Suffolk Downs are descended from the old horned Norfolk, 

 crossed by the Southdowns. Although not very symmetrical in form, they are very 

 hardy and useful on the strong lands of Suffolk and poor sands of Norfolk; they are 

 also found in Cambridgeshire. They have black faces and legs, with long donkey ears. 



In West Suffolk they have been much improved of late, probably by the impress of 

 Hampshire rams. The Smithfield Club has allowed them a wether and lamb class at 

 the December show, and the lambs have put in a formidable appearance, sufficient to 

 justify a claim that well-managed flocks are not deficient in early maturity. The heav- 

 iest pen at the last show was that of Mr. E. Tyson, of Silverley, Newmarket, which at 

 nine months two weeks old scaled 5 cwt. 1 quarter 22 pounds. 



The Dorset Horns. This breed like hilly pastures of moderate elevation, and few other 

 breeds are kept in Western Dorset from Dorchester to Beaminster, and also in continua- 

 tion of the same district in South Somerset from Yeovil to Crewkerne and Chard. There 

 are some good ram-breeding flocks also on the slopes of Quantock, below Bridgewater. 

 The ewes are remarkably prolific, frequently yielding twins and triplets at a birth, and 

 with good feeding will 'produce two crops a year. This has been the breed always chiefly 

 depended upon in the production of early lambs. Draft ewes, after having been put to 

 a Southdown ram, are brought to Weyhill fair in October and purchased by Berks and 

 Home Counties farmers, who prefer to have them lamb down in November and Decem- 

 ber. The wethers and old ewes, when fattened, make good weights. Mr. Herbert Far- 

 thing's twenty-three-months-old wethers at the late Smithfield show scaled 7 cwt. 23 

 pounds to the pen. 



The Cheviots. The Cheviots derive their name from the Cheviot hills. They are 

 really a mountain breed, but are ill adapted to very high ranges. They may be described 

 a follows: They are prolific and good nurses; they have no horns. The faces are large 

 and white, with no wool on the head. The eyes are lively and prominent; the ears 

 lonn and well covered with hair; the chest is full. Their thick wool makes them very 

 hardy. The wool is short and of medium quality, but with good spinning qualities. It, 

 how< * much, and is chiefly used for making a soft yarn. 



The breed emanated in Northumberland, but from a limited range along the course 

 of the Tweed they ultimately displaced the black sheep from all the lower Scottish 



