OXFORDSHIRE DOWN SHEEP. 65 



of Jefferson, Ashtabula County, Ohio. The ram, "Lion," 

 now three years old, was bred by Lord Berwick, of Shrews- 

 bury, England, and imported in 1861. His live weight is 334 

 lbs., and he yielded on the 16th of May, 1863, 17 lbs. 5 oz. of 

 washed wool of 11 J months growth. The ewe, "Nancy," was 

 bred by Lord Berwick, and imported at the same time. She 

 is thi-ee years old, and her live weight is 241 lbs. On the 16th 

 of May, 1863, she yielded 9 lbs. 3 oz. of washed wool of 11 J 

 months growth. Six ewes at the same time, and under the 

 same circumstances, yielded 42 lbs. 5 oz. of wool. They were 

 sheared the fifth day after washing in clear brook water. 



In answer to my inquiries on the subject, Judge Chaffee 

 writes me that these sheep were imported by Mr. George 

 Miller, of Markham, Canada West; that they are very 

 hardy, healthy and easily kept ; and that they excel in these 

 particulars all his other sheep, of which he has four kinds. 

 He says : 



" They are nearly as large as the long-wooled breed, say 

 Cotswolds or Leicesters, and yielding just about the same 

 quantity of wool, are in my judgment much more hardy and 

 healthy. They have the dark colored legs and face of the 

 South Down ; much longer, thicker and more compact fleeces 

 than the South Downs, and much thicker and more compact 

 ones than the long-wooled breeds. They have all the nice, 

 round, compact frame, and even, uniform symmetry of appear- 

 ance of the South Down, and are about 33 per cent, heavier. 

 I have never slaughtered any of this breed, and cannot speak 

 from personal knowledge as to the quality of their mutton, 

 but it is said, by those who do know, to be very superior and 

 hardly to be excelled by the South Down." 



The Oxfordshire Downs. — This is a new family of 

 sheep, and I take the following account of its origin from the 

 already quoted address of Mr. Charles Howard, delivered 

 before the London Farmers' Club. Mr. Howard is a well 

 known breeder of them. He says : 



" The ' Oxfordshire Downs' are what are commonly styled 

 cross-bred sheep ; but their patrons, in 1857, determined upon 

 giving them a definite name. Hence their new title, the 

 propriety of which is demurred to by some ; for its only 

 similarity to a Down is its color, while its size and fleece 

 partake more of the long-wool — important qualities, which 

 have been long and carerally cultivated by the promoters of 

 this breed. They were originally produced by crossing the 



