786 CATTLE AND- DAIKY FARMING. 



OXFOEDSHIEE DOWNS. 



These have taken quite a firm hold of the affections of many breeders in Bedfordshire, 

 Bucks, Hunts, &c. The Oxford Down is an attractive sheep, and the specimens exhib- 

 ited at the Itoyal York Show were worthy of the national gathering. Quality was ob- 

 servable all along the line, and where so much excellence was discernible they were most 

 difficult classes to judge. The ram sales were fully successful, and attracted numerous 

 buyers from the continent. At Mr. John Treadwell's sale at Upper Winchendon, a 

 number of shearling and ram lambs were disposed of at an average of a trifle over £23 

 12s. A number of the rams were bought for Germany, although a few were picked up 

 by our Gallic neighbors. The Fyfield flock of Mr. A. F. Nnlton-Druce averaged £17 

 10s., and the Biddenham lot realized the handsome average of £15 lis. Mr. Albert 

 Brassey, who was so successful at the Eoyal Show at York, was equally fortunate in 

 the sale ring. The Heythorp flock averaged £14, being an increase of nearly £1 com- 

 pared with last year's average. Mr. George Street, of Maulden, obtained an average 

 of £10 Is. 3d. Mr. Fred. Street, of Somersbam Park, also disposed of 40 fine sheep at 

 an average of £14 9«. 8d. Mr. John Worley's flock averaged £14 3s. 2(f., and Mr. 

 l^d. Gillett's Bampton flock obtained an average of £15 3s. Drafts were sold from' va- 

 rious flocks, the averages ranging from 4 to 10 guineas. Equally favorable prices were 

 obtained for ewes and ewe lambs; and on the whole the Oxford Downs went off very 

 well. They are great favorites on the continent, and before long will be found in the 

 United States. 



HAMPSHIRE DOWNS. 



These are a comparatively new variety,* and are said to have been produced by South- 

 down crosses on the old Wiltshire sheep. The breed possesses in a high degree the qual- 

 ities of fecundity and early maturity. Indeed, we have known 100 wether lambs, just a 

 little over six months old, fetch 72s. per head; and as for weight, three lambs under 

 ten months weighed at the last Smithfield Club Show (1882) 224 pounds each Jive weight, 

 or upwards of 35 pounds per quarter butchers' meat. These sheep are massive, broad, 

 even, deep, and close-wooled, and do well on dry chalk soils. The Hampshires fared 

 particularly well both in the show-yard and in the sale ring. Mr. Alfred Morrison, after 

 his Hamburg success, won well at York with large, long, and lusty animals. Mr. 

 William Parsons (Micbeldever) also had a fair time of it, and secured.-flrst and second 

 in the shearling ewe class with well-rounded, neat sheep. In the sale ring his flock 

 averaged £15 13s. for rams, and 97s. 3d. for ewes. The Hackwood flock of Mr. John 

 Barto'i averaged £12 lOs. The Wrotham Hill Park lot were quickly disposed of at an 

 average of £6; two of the rams being bought for exportation to Jamaica. The supply 

 at Welton fair exceeded 100,000, and were chiefly bought by flockmasters in the west- 

 ern counties. Mr. Twiddell's flock fetched from £4 14s. 6d. to £12 12s. ; and Mr. John 

 Parris's averaged about 7i guineas, and Mr. H. Dudding sold 16 rams at an average of £12; 

 .and Professor Wrightson disposed of 40 at from £6 to £7 10s. each. Mr. Oakley had 

 1 50 from his Underwood Hall flock, which fetched from £7 to £10 each. Six rams were 

 bought at Peterborough at £5 10s. each for shipment for Buenos Ayres. Mr. F. Boyce 

 (Manor Farm) disposed of 1,400 ewes and lambs at high prices, the total sum realized 

 being £4,484 17s. The Broadfleld lot, belonging to Mr. William Lane, averaged £17 7?. 

 Sd., the average last year being £17 15s., and in 1881 Jfl2 8s. 9d. The Homington flock 

 was weeded to the extent of 131 lots. The rams were let as high as 67 guineas. Mr. 

 Dibben hired at 42 guineas; Mr. Parsons, of Micheldever, at 61 guineas. Ram lambs were 

 sold at 41 guineas, which was given by Professor Wrightson. At the sale of Mr. Pal- 

 mer (Berry Court, Wallop, Hampshire) ram lambs were let at from 7J to 22 guineas 

 each, the average of 70 being £11 19s. 6d. A number of rams of the well-known Font- 

 hill flock, which took the champion prize at the Hamburg Show, were let and sold at 

 high prices. The ram lambs were let for the season at 64 guineas. The average at 

 which 13 lots were hired was £34 6s. Gd. The selections from the flock of Mr. W. Cheyney 

 Street made satisfactory prices, and the draft ewes, which were remarkably well matched, 

 sold for upwards of 5 guineas each. • 



SHEOPSHIKES. 



This breed is making great headway, and seems to be a great favorite everywhere. 

 They are fancied not only in Shropshire, but are found in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and 

 ■ in several continental countries, while numbers have been exported to Canada. That 

 the breed is decidedly popular cannot be denied. 



*Next oldest to Southdown. 



