20 BULLETIN" 94, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



wool. "When exhibited in 1840, they were smaller, less compact, 

 narrower in front, and lighter in color than the Hampshire of to-day. 



The present breed owes much of its excellence to the work of Wil- 

 liam Humphrey, of Oak Ash, Newberg, and James Rawlence, of 

 Bulbridge, Wilton, Hampshire. 



Flocks of Hampshires can be found to-day in Wiltshire, Berkshire, 

 Dorsetshire, Sussex, and Surrey, besides their native county. At 

 Isley, in Berkshire, as many as 33,000 Hampshires have been shown 

 at the fair. Exportations have been made to the United States, 

 Canada, Mexico, South America, South Africa, and to many countries 

 of Europe. 



Importations of Hampshires were made to Virginia prior to the 

 Civil War, but in the strife that followed they were neglected and all 

 records were lost. It is said that the dark-faced sheep of North 

 Carolina are descended from these Hampshires. 



In 1865, Thomas Messinger, of Great Neck, Long Island, made an 

 importation. For more than a quarter of a century very few Hamp- 

 shires were brought over, but about 1880 interest in the breed was 

 revived and importations became more frequent. During the past 

 few years they have been especially popular, and larger importations 

 have been made of Hampshires than any other breed. One importa- 

 tion numbered over a thousand ewes. 



No breed of sheep will give more satisfactory returns than the 

 .Hampshire, if accorded good care and given plenty of feed. Neither 

 will any other breed deteriorate more rapidly, if these are denied. 

 They are unable to rustle for themselves to the extent of some other 

 breeds, consequently they do not thrive upon broken or scanty 

 pasture. They are especially adapted to an intensive system of 

 farming, such as hurdling upon green forage crops, rape, turnips, etc. 



Purebred flocks of Hampshires are confined largely to the States of 

 Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and New York in the East 

 and Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Missouri in the West. Hampshire 

 rams are used quite widely upon the range for crossing upon ewes of 

 other breeds for the production of market lambs. The Hampshire 

 lambs are large; they grow rapidly and attain their greatest perfection 

 while comparatively young — the reason for their wide popularity. 

 In the East the rams are frequently used for siring "hothouse" 

 lambs. 



The Hampshire, with possibly one exception (the Oxford), is the 

 largest of the Down breeds, and it is excelled in size only by the 

 Lincoln and the Cotswold among the long wools. Hampshire rams 

 generally range in weight from 225 to 275 pounds and the ewes from 

 175 to 200 pounds. The popularity of the Hampshire lamb speaks 

 for the mutton qualities of this breed. 



The head of the Hampshire is very characteristic. The face is black, 

 and they have a Roman nose. The ears are large, somewhat pointed, 



