THE LEICESTER. 65 I 



extremely fine in quality, and is employed in the manufacture of warm 

 cloaks, which are largely used by the peasantry. 



THE SOUTHDOWN, 



The Southdown (Plate L) is one of the short-wooled breeds, and is 

 valuable, not only for its wool, but for the delicacy of its flesh. It has 

 no horns. It derives its name from the South Downs, a range of chalk- 

 hills in Sussex, Surrey, and Kent, which are covered with a short, sweet 

 grass ; but it is not confined to this region, but has been introduced 

 wherever the soil and grass are suitable. 



THE LEICESTER. 



The Leicester and its varieties are long-wooled animals, which prefer 

 low-lying pasturages to breezy downs. 



The most celebrated breed of Leicester Sheep is that which is known 

 as the Dishley breed, and which was developed by the persevering 

 energies of a single individual against every possible discouragement. 

 Mr. Bakewell, seeing that the whole practice of sheep-breeding was 

 based on erroneous principles, struck out an entirely new plan, and fol- 

 lowed it with admirable perseverance. The usual plan in breeding the 

 old Leicester Sheep was to obtain a large body and a heavy fleece. Mr. 

 Bakewell, however, thought that these overgrown animals could not be 

 nearly so profitable to the farmer as a smaller and better proportioned 

 breed ; for the amount of wool and flesh which was gained by the larger 

 animals would not compensate for the greater amount of food required 

 to fatten them, and the additional year or eighteen months during which 

 they had to be maintained. 



His idea was, that three extra pounds of wool are not so valuable as 

 ten or twelve pounds of meat, and that when the expense of keeping and 

 feeding a sheep for eighteen months is taken into consideration, the 

 balance is certainly on the wrong side. He therefore set himself to im- 

 prove the flesh, letting the wool take care of itself at first, and then 

 turned his attention to the fleece. It was found by experience that 

 sheep with a heavy fleece fatten more slowly than those whose coat is 

 moderately thick. 



