WORK OF HUMPHREY 



125 



ram was coupled to some of the largest Cotswold ewes, and the 

 most robust of the produce was selected for use. The thought then 

 struck me that my best plan would be to obtain a first-rate Sussex 

 Down Southdown sheep to put to my larger Hampshire Down ewes, 

 both being the Short-woolled breed. . . . With this object I wrote to 

 ilr. Jonas Webb to send me one of his best sheep, and he sent me a 

 shearling by his favorite sheep Babraham. I went down the next 

 two years and selected for myself, but the stock did not suit my taste 

 so well as the one he sent me, and I did not use them. I then com- 

 missioned him to send me the sheep which obtained the first prize 

 at Liverpool, and from these two sheep, the first and last, by mark- 



Fig. 79. — Twenty-two thousand Hampshires in pens made with hurdles, Salisbury 



Fair, England. 



ing the lambs of each tribe as they fell, then coupling them together 

 at the third and fourth generation, my present flock was made " 

 (Pig. 79). 



Some time after Mr. Humphrey began his work he drafted 

 twenty-five ewes from a purchase of one hundred, made in con- 

 junction with his neighbor, Mr. Eawlence. This was the only time 

 he introduced outside blood through females. Before using any of 

 his rams extensively he tested them on a selected few of his ewes 

 and if they did not breed to suit him, they were sent to the butcher. 

 His greatest difficulty was the loss of size which was overcome by 

 regularly disposing of his smallest ewes. In fact, his skill as a 

 breeder was due in large part to his diligence in weeding out 



