414 



Farming of Lincolnshire, 



tegration of rock, and, by another species of art, have refined the 

 unwieldy ox and coarse-boned sheep; this Report declares what 

 improved operations of husbandry they are at present performing ; 

 and who can tell but that with an adjustment of the claims of 

 the industrious classes obstacles of price shall yield like others to 

 their growing strength, and " Lincolnshire farming/' with British 

 Agriculture, once more enjoy a sound prosperity, cheered by a 

 brightening prospect of the future ? 



XVI IT. — Report of Experiments on the Comparative Fattening 

 Qualities of different Breeds of Sheep. By J. B. Lawes^ 

 Rothamsted, Herts. 



Hampsliire and Sussex Doions. 



It is obvious that wherever that system of farming prevails 

 which is characterised by an extensive growth of root crops, and 

 the consumption of a large quantity of what i?. termed artificial 

 food" by stock, a very different character of sheep will be in 

 request from that which is adapted to roam over large tracts of 

 scanty herbage. In the latter case that description of animal is 

 valued most which is best able to exist with a scarcity of food, 

 the result of which is to lessen the tendency to early maturity ; 

 and although this method of feeding will probably always be 

 found the most advantageous one in some localities, yet there 

 cannot be a doubt that in the course of agricultural progress a 

 tendency to early maturity, or the aptitude to increase rapidly 

 upon a liberal supply of food, is a quality which is increasingly 

 sought after by farmers. 



Without, then, in the least degree depreciating the importance 

 of other qualities than that of rapid fattening, it is assumed that a 

 hioicledge as to which breed of sheep will give the greatest in- 

 crease upon a given quantity of food, and within a given time, 

 during the period of fattening, is at least a great desideratum ; 

 and it was therefore determined to undertake some careful expe- 

 riments in reference to this point, with the breeds of most im- 

 portance in this country. Accordingly a comparative trial has 

 now been made between the Hampshire and Sussex Downs, the 

 results of which are given in the present paper ; a similar experi- 

 ment is now in progress between the Cotswold and New Oxford 

 breeds ; and it is proposed in the following year to undertake the 

 Lincolnshire and Leicestershire breeds. 



The county of Sussex has long been famed for its breed of 

 sheep known by the name of Sussex Down, which, by the united 

 efforts of individuals whose names are familiar to all who are 

 conversant with the progress of agriculture in Great Britain, have 



