432 Breeds of Sheep best adapted to different Localities, 



found to discuss their respective merits. The respective advo- 

 cates of the breeds under notice struggle not only for the pre- 

 dominance of their favourites, but would appear, from their earnest 

 advocacy, not content with any thins: less than the absolute dominion 

 of all the arable and grazing land being ceded to their pets. In 

 this I believe both sides to be wrong. From observations care- 

 fully made, I feel convinced that ordinary Leicesters will succeed 

 better, return a greater amount of money to the farmer in less 

 time and on a smaller amount of food, both of flesh and wool, 

 than an ordinary Southdown, if they are fed on a pasture fairly 

 succulent, up to a rich one, or on artificial food, such as rape, 

 Swedes, &c. ; and this will be still more distinguishable if the 

 experiment is made in a moist country. On the contrary, if the 

 experiments were made on wide, open, bleak downs, with a scanty 

 herbage, where the animals will be compelled to travel far for their 

 food, exposed at the same time to cold, cutting winds, the merits 

 of the Southdown would be found decidedly to preponderate. In 

 passing an opinion on this matter I do not include the merits of 

 the Southdown for folding, that being a practice, which, however 

 indispensable it might have been in former times, is now 

 questionable, since the benefit derived by folding on arable land 

 is more than balanced by the loss sustained on the sheep and 

 pastures.* Three hundred weight of guano will be a much 

 better dressing to an arable field than the best folding ; and as 

 regards treading the land, in order to render it firmer, the roller 

 and seam-presser will be much more effectual. To sum up this 

 matter in a few words, regard being had to the climatic cir- 

 cumstances already alluded to, Southdowns will be found most 

 advantageous on dry soils much exposed to the bleak winds of 

 winter and the drought of summer, the herbage of such places 

 usuall y consisting of varieties of rye-grass (Lolium perenne), bent 

 {Agrostis), sheep's fescue (Festuca ovina), sweet-scented vernal- 

 grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), hard fescue (Festuca duriusculd), 

 crested dog's-tail (Cgnosurus cristatus), annual meadow-grass 

 (Poa annua). With such herbage, and on arid downs and plains, 

 the Leicester would cut but a sorry figure ; the Southdown, how- 

 ever, will do well in these places. In stating this, however, it 

 must be clearly understood that ordinary Southdown sheep — not 

 the splendid prize animals exhibited occasionally by the Duke of 

 Richmond, Jonas Webb, and • — Grantham, Esqrs. : such animals 

 must be fed equal to Leicesters. 



On pastures where several of the above grasses, such as rye- 

 grass, sweet-scented vernal, hard fescue, crested dog's-tail, &c, 

 are accompanied more or less with cocksfoot (Dactylis globerata), 



* Upland downs, however, on a farm would probably form one exception. — Ph. P. 



