442 SHEEP INDUSTEY OF THE UNITED STATES 



SO niueli resembled tbe Shropshire as to be taken as the same kind of 

 sheep. The superiority claimed for them was that they combined the 

 early maturity, heavy carcass, and ample fleece of the Gotswold, with 

 the fine wool and mutton of the Downs. 



At first there was much difficulty in keeping a newly-formed flock 

 of these cross-breeds to one character. The first cross and their pro- 

 duce would be dissimilar; some would partake too much of the long- 

 wool, while others were too small and short-coated. The owner for- 

 merly divided his fiock into three parts, i)utting a half-bred ram to the 

 ewes that were about right — a Ootswold to the small ones and a Down 

 to the coarser sheep. By constant attention to these points a flock 

 may be brought to some degree of uniformity; but the breeder fre- 

 quently found that if the fleece was a little too short or face too white, 

 by using pure Ootswold or Down rams he rushed into the other extreme, 

 the product too much resembling their sires.* 



These cross-breeds are considered as profitable as any that can be 

 raised, both on account of size, weight of wool, aptitude to fatten, hardy 

 character, and valuable meat. Not until 1850 were they known as any- 

 thing but cross-breeds (Dowu-Cotswolds,) under which designation they 

 achieved some success and reputation at the Smithfield shows. In 1850, 

 from the county of their origin and stronghold, they \\ ere styled the 

 Oxfordshire Down. A writer in the Journal of the Eoyal Agricultural 

 Society of England, 1852, said : " On the Oxfordshire side of Northamp- 

 ton County the Leicester flocks have beencrossedtosomeextentwiththe 

 New Oxfords. These are sheep of large dimensions, and are bred in 

 Oxfordshire and the surrounding districts. A cross of this kind in- 

 creases the weight and size of the Leicester." From 1850 to 1860 the 

 breed was much extended by sale from different flocks, but more largely 

 by the sale under the haimner of some choice flocks owned by ram 

 breeders of skill, standing high in the estimation of the public. The 

 distribution of these flocks laid a good foundation for many others, and 

 many tenant farmers gave up the old breeds to make room for the im- 

 proved one, and landed proprietors became interested in and favored it. 



As soon as the breed became established some of the most success- 

 ful breeders began to exhibit their sheep at the show of the Eoyal Ag- 

 ricultural Society, and as they had no special class tlieir animals were 

 shown with short-wooled sheep and cross-breds. At a meeting at 

 Warwick, in 1859, there were thirty-seven entries. The first prize in the 

 old class (comprising Oxfords, Shropshires, and Hampshire Downs) was 

 taken by Mr. Samuel Druce for a sheep of this breed. The three prize 

 animals were measured with this result : Mr. Druce's Oxfordshire Down 

 2 years and 6 months old, girth 4 feet 10 inches; Mr. Humphrey's 

 Hampshire Down, 3 years and 4 months old, girth 4 feet 9 inches; Mr. 

 Adney's Shropshire Down, 2 years and 3J months old, girth 4 feet 8 

 inches. 



' Farming of Oxfordshire. By Clare Sewell Read, J. E. A. S. of England A'ol xv 

 1855. o . • . 



