330 THE BREEDS OF LIV E-STOCK 
began the development of the breed, striving for better 
mutton form and constitution, and at the same time to 
improve the fleece. He made rapid progress in fixing 
the present features of the Southdown. About 1820, 
Jonas Webb began breeding Southdowns with a selection 
from the Ellman and other flocks, and he proved to be 
the genius among the breeders. ‘He built on Ellman’s 
foundation, and produced this superior mutton sheep, of 
larger size and better feeding quality. The Southdown 
was thus the first of the Down or middle-wool breeds to 
be improved, and has been employed in the development 
of the other Down breeds, particularly the Shropshire, 
Oxford and Hampshire. It early became the breed of 
the English royalty and aristocracy, and remains so to 
the present time. 
377. History in America. — The first authentic i impor- 
tation into America was by Dr. Rose, of Seneca county, 
New York, in 1803. The sheep of this importation, how- 
ever, were crossed with Merinos in 1813. In 1823, Sidney 
Hawes, of New York, made another importation and 
sold thirty-six ewes and two rams to C. N. Bement of 
Albany. In 1834, Francis Rotch, of Otsego county, New 
York, imported six ewes and a ram from the Ellman flock. 
In the same year, Isaac Maynard, of Coshocton county, 
Ohio, made an importation. Deane the forties and fifties 
of the same century, while wool was very low and Merinos 
falling into disfavor, Southdowns became disseminated 
very widely. With the revival of interest in Merinos from 
the high prices for wool following the Civil War, South- 
downs fell into disfavor, and because of their low wool- 
yield and the relative importance of wool in this country, 
they have not regained wide popularity in the North or 
on the ranges. South of the Ohio river, however, es- 
