Breeds of Sheep best adapted to different Localities. 449 



of food- — in the first place, in consequence of possessing small 

 lungs, the consumption of the carbonaceous portion of the food, 

 such as starch, sugar, Sec, is less than in an animal with larger 

 lungs, the difference serving to furnish fat ; secondly, the smallness 

 of the lungs makes the animal indisposed to use much exercise, 

 and thus becomes naturally addicted to those quiet habits which 

 are so well known to aid materially in the well doing of fattening 

 animals ; and, thirdly, but indirectly, in consequence of the two 

 first named qualities, such animals being found to be ill adapted 

 to poor pastures, are placed only upon those of richer quality, 

 where their profitable qualities become developed. The very 

 fine prize animals which are exhibited of the Southdown breed 

 would be almost equally unfit to graze the arid and bare pastures 

 of the exposed downs as the Leicesters, and that j ust in proportion 

 as their anatomical and physiological structure assimilated. It 

 thus appears to be a rule which pretty generally holds good, that 

 as a sheep gains in feeding properties, it loses in hardihood, and 

 the reverse ; notwithstanding which there are some cases which, 

 although they do not amount to exceptions, yet are such variations 

 that they give the farmer a considerable choice in selection : for 

 instance, the Welsh, the black- faced, and the Herdwick sheep 

 are of a nearly equal hardy nature, the last named being the 

 hardiest, whilst at the same time it will return a greater value of 

 wool than the first, nearly equal to the second, and in fat and flesh 

 will yield a money return for its food greater than either, whilst 

 heavy losses through hard weather rarely occur with the Herd- 

 wick. 



On some pastures between the character of down and heath- 

 land, it may be desirable to possess an animal of considerable 

 endurance, good size, with aptitude to fatten — for such we must 

 look to the Cotswold and crosses thereon, together with the 

 Cheviots. These breeds possess moderate activity, endurance, 

 and fair fattening qualities, and will do well on pastures where a 

 first-rate Leicester would scarcely obtain a living. The character 

 of these pastures has already been described. The downs appear, 

 for the reasons already given, as well as from long experience, to 

 be best adapted for their own localities ; should, however, arable 

 cultivation take place on down land, it will then become a 

 question which breed is best adapted under the altered circum- 

 stances — the Leicester, or the Southdown? In considering this 

 question we entirely put out of view the value of folding, which 

 was always a doubtful practice, and was only justified under 

 peculiar circumstances ; besides it is capable of proof in a 

 great degree that what was gained in corn by this method was 

 lost in meat and wool ; it is the more questionable now, when the 

 benefit that was formerly derived from folding can be obtained 



