British Breeds of Sheep 79 



"I say that in fifty years' experience, I never knew 

 a flockmaster in the county or out of it who had better 

 sheep than others, but the improvement was to be 

 traced to Glynde. The mode adopted and still 

 continued that produced so much perfection is in 

 the choice of the ewes to the rams and the constant 

 attention to the produce from such selections." It 

 has been stated that some infusions were made of 

 Leicester blood, but there seems to be no exact 

 evidence of it. 



Improvement of Southdxywns by Jonas Webb. — Mr. 

 Ellmann began his work about the year 1780 and 

 retired in 1829, and it was in 1823 that Jonas Webb 

 commenced to devote his attention to the improve- 

 ment of the Southdown. In 1824 the following 

 description was given of the Southdowns, indicating 

 what they were when Jonas Webb began his work : 

 "Their legs and faces were gray; they have fine 

 wool, which is from two to three inches long and 

 weighs from two and a half to three pounds per 

 fleece. They were slightly deficient in depth and 

 breadth of chest, but the mutton is excellent and 

 highly flavored ; they are kindly breeders and when 

 fat the average weight may be stated to be fifteen to 

 eighteen pounds per quarter." From the report of the 

 Southdown Club Show of 1827, the following extract 

 is taken to indicate the character of the Southdown 

 at that time : "In the sheep classes of that year the 

 Leicesters did not come up to their previous strength 



