80 Sheep-Farming 



of merit. The Southdowns, on the other hand, were 

 declared to be better than at any previous occasion. 

 The majority of those exhibited proving how nearly 

 the Southdowns bred in that day 'approached the 

 Leicester in correct form,' the last two words itali- 

 cized in the original report; and certainly," the 

 reporter adds, "there are other valuable indications 

 of the first order." Mr. Webb's aim was to make 

 a larger sheep than that bred by Mr. EUmann and 

 still retain all the desirable qualities of the South- 

 down. Mr. Webb purchased his foundation flock 

 from Mr. Ellmann and finally became his successor. 

 The aim of Mr. Ellmann was to improve his sheep 

 in form without adding especially to their size and 

 to maintain the original hardiness and recognized 

 characteristics of producing mutton of the highest 

 excellence. Mr. Webb thought an increase in size 

 desirable, and worked with this in view, retaining, 

 however, the true type and essential points of the 

 pure-bred Southdowns ; namely, beauty of form, 

 strength of constitution, with excellence of wool and 

 mutton, the latter unsurpassed by any other breed. 

 Contrasting the aim of the two breeders still further, 

 the following clear statement presents the difference 

 according to Mr. Henry Wood, who says : " Here I 

 would venture to remark that while the owners of 

 the flocks of which I have just spoken were scrupu- 

 lously careful to maintain the purity of the breed, 

 each aimed at a different type of animal. 'Small 



