112 Sheep-Farming 



of type between the original best County Down 

 sheep with its large form and strong constitution 

 and the 'improved Hampshire Down' with its 

 more symmetrical form, better flesh, and finer wool. 

 In each type their tendency to early maturity, which 

 has given this breed of sheep their high character, 

 has been properly preserved, and this is evidently a 

 great point with the breeders. In the shearhng rams 

 great size and, in most instances, excellent quality 

 of flesh and wool are found ; but the acceptance of a 

 black face as a type of the breed has led, in many 

 instances, to a tendency to rustiness if not blackness 

 of the wool around the ears and poll. We regard this 

 as a great defect, which in common with occasional 

 thickness in the neck or scrag exhibits itself in some 

 cases throughout all the classes." The next year 

 the report of the Stewards of the show was to the 

 following effect: "The last-named gentlemen [Mr. 

 W. Humphrey and Mr. James Rawlence] were the 

 first who set to work in good earnest to improve 

 the old Hampshire breed, which originally was cele- 

 brated for its big head, long ears, and thin-fleshed 

 back. In neither class, referring to the shearlings 

 and the older sheep, were the enormous heads and 

 upright shoulders to be found which formerly pre- 

 vailed so much among the Hampshire sheep; all 

 were level in their character, form, and wool, and, in 

 fact, with such general uniformity that they might 

 all have come from the same flock." These improve- 



