Management of Sheep. 



7 



October fair, and are much sought after by different breeders 

 from the adjoining counties. At this fair a considerable trade 

 is carried on in the sale and letting of rams, it being the con- 

 clusion of the season; but the leading breeders prefer letting 

 their sheep at home, which commences on the 8th of June, and 

 continues during the season. • 



The Southdowns are a breed of animals distinct from every 

 other race, and are best adapted to the warm heathy soils of the 

 southern counties. They are classed under the head of ''the 

 Sussex, Hampshire, and Norfolk Downs." The parent and prin- 

 cipal stock are indigenous to the county of Sussex, where they have 

 long existed, but they were first improved and brought into general 

 notice by the late Mr. John Ellman of Glynde, who, hke the 

 celebrated Robert Bakewell, suceeded in establishing his peculiar 

 views in breeding, and to whom this country will ever be much 

 indebted. Previously to his efforts the breed was little known in 

 England (except in their own localities, such as the South Downs 

 of Sussex, whence they derive their name), and was left to 

 chance or the management of shepherds, with whom it could not 

 be a matter of interest to sort or improve, more attention being 

 paid to numbers for going to fold than to improvement in their 

 form and quality. They were not taken to market before three 

 years old, when they were designated " the old Downs," and were 

 much sought after as possessing fine texture of flesh, and well 

 suited to the table of the epicure. A liberal price was paid 

 per lb., but this in reality amounted to a small sum per head, 

 owing to their inferior weight. The decided and popular results 

 of the late Mr. Eilman's enterprise drew the attention of other 

 breeders to the importance of improvement : his males were 

 eagerly engaged, and since that period they have been propagated 

 by the different breeders upon Bakewell's principle with immense 

 success ; their character has been improved and their fleece and 

 form increased. From the increased importance of our manu- 

 factures, and the growing taste for finer descriptions of woollens, 

 as well as the preference given for fine-grained mutton, they now 

 fairly rank amongst the most valuable breeds, and are becoming 

 both a profitable and fashionable race. They are propagated 

 with success in many parts of England, particularly among noble- 

 men and gentlemen, who cultivate them alike for their quality of 

 mutton and general park-like appearance. On many farms the 

 rams are used for the purpose of crossing with the long-woolled 

 breeds. The more popular flocks are those of his Grace the 

 Duke of Richmond, Mr. Ellman, and Mr. Jonas Webb, the 

 latter having in fact created a new and beautiful style of animal, 

 peculiar to his ideas, which may be justly termed the " Babraham 

 flock " of Southdowns. 



