Breeds of Sheep best adapted to different Localities. 435 



that the old Lincoln or Teeswater did, but, like the last named, 

 did not arrive at maturity untd they were three years old. The 

 meat and wool were, however, of a finer quality than the Lincoln 

 and Teeswater. The modern Romney Marsh sheep is a very 

 superior animal, containing a cross of about one-third new Leicester 

 blood ; the wethers now arrive at market at two years old, instead 

 of three as heretofore : the fleece and flesh continue good, and 

 the cross has become gradually acclimated to the bleak winds of 

 the exposed marshes. The upland Kentish sheep contain a 

 still greater amount of the blood of the new Leicester and im- 

 proved Southdowns, and is the only county with which we are 

 acquainted where the mixture of the two latter with the original 

 large breed of the country has effected a permanent improvement ; 

 this is probably owing to the fact that the uplands of a large 

 portion of Kent possess a milder climate than such sheep walks 

 of similar altitude in other parts of the kingdom ; also to the cir- 

 cumstance that the chalks of Kent are much intermixed with a 

 soil composed of debris from the gualt, green sand, and wealdean 

 clay ; in consequence of which the downs of Kent possess a much 

 richer herbage than others composed principally of sand or chalk. 

 In conclusion, it may, however, be observed that the pure South- 

 down or new Leicester will not answer on Romney Marsh ; 

 the former will not return an adequate amount of wool and flesh, 

 and the latter would starve in winter. 



Of the Bampton sheep I know little, and believe they are 

 principally confined to the vicinity of Taunton and the more 

 fertile vales of Devon and Somerset. The present breed is a 

 cross from the old breed with the Leicester, and from the few 

 specimens which I have seen in Smithfield market, I should 

 judge from their appearance that their qualities are very similar 

 to those of the improved Kent just described. The breeders of 

 this class of sheep assert that it is the most profitable for wool 

 and mutton of any breed in the kingdom ; how much of their 

 famed quality in this respect is due to the richness of the vales 

 and the mildness of the climate in which they are reared and 

 fattened we cannot say : that they are admirably adapted for the 

 country in w T hich they are adopted we are not prepared to dispute, 

 but were their qualities to be tested on the Cheviot Hills with 

 the native breed of that district, or on Romney Marsh during 

 winter, we anticipate they would not come off altogether victorious. 

 On this point it may be stated as a general rule, that whilst 

 animals or crosses from animals bred on inferior pastures or 

 severe climates may safely and often advantageously be removed 

 to milder climates and better pastures, the reverse of this is often 

 most disadvantageous, and should not be attempted without great 

 circumspection and previously well weighing and balancing the 



