Practical Agriculture. 
565 = 299 
jlour ; the poll well covered with wool and adorned with a 
)p-knot on the forehead ; a good fleece of wool, thick on the 
vin and not too curly ; a well-formed barrel on short dark legs 
lot grey or spotted), with good firm mutton. The ewes are 
ood mothers, and drop a large proportion of twins. 
The hoggs or tegs are commonly sold fat, at twelve or thirteen 
lonths old, at a dead-weight of 20 to 24 lbs. per quarter. The 
eight of some of the exhibition wethers and rams, as those of 
Ir. A. F. M. Druce ; Mr. Dale, of Marlborough ; Mr. John 
readwell, and Mr. Charles Howard, have almost equalled that 
f the Lincolns and Cotswold Longwools. The average weight of Weights ami 
eece for a whole flock is about 7 lbs. ; but shearling rams have 
ipped up to 20 lbs. per fleece. In 1872, Oxfordshire Downs 
on the champion plate of the Smithfield Club, as best in the 
bow. 
The breed is particularly adapted for close stocking, and for 
)nfinement entirely in folds. It prevails in the home and mid- 
.nd counties ; the rams are largely employed for crossing with 
[ampshire ewes for early lamb ; they are sold in considerable 
umbers to Scotland, Ireland, and various countries of Europe ; 
rid both at Oxford and other fairs, and at the auctions and 
rivate sales, the rams fetch high prices. Among the chief Breeders, 
ocks at the present time are those of the Duke of Marlborough ; 
ir Henry W. Dashwood, Bart., of Kirtlington Park ; Mr. A. F. 
lilton Druce, of Eynsham ; Mr. George Wallis, of Bampton ; 
Ir.John Treadwell, of Upper VVinchendon ; Mr. Charles Howard, 
I Biddenham ; Mr. Rogers, Mr. Stilgoe, Mr. Charles Hobbs, 
Ir. Gillett, Mr. Gale, and Mr. George Street. 
Sliropshii'es. — The original heath breeds of the Longmynd Origin of the 
inge, in Shropshire, and Cannock Chase, in Staffordshire, Shropshire^, 
aving horns and black faces, were improved first by South- 
iwn blood and afterwards by selection, until the present 
hropshire breed was established. Thus, two of the most cele- 
rated founders of the breed were Mr. Samuel Meire, who made 
se of both Southdown and Leicester blood, and Mr. George 
idney, who, beginning with sheep descended from a Southdown 
loss, brought his flock to extraordinary perfection by selection 
1 breeding. It is only of late years that a real uniformity of 
. pe has been attained and adhered to ; and all admixture of 
)own blood has for a long time been discontinued, as detri- 
lental to the size and character of the breed. 
A Shropshire sheep resembles a Southdown, but is consider- Points of the 
bly larger and of greater substance ; the face is longer and the '^i'^'^''- 
ars are larger ; the eye is prominent ; the forehead is broad, flat, 
ud well covered with wool ; the colour of the face is uniformly 
ark, described as a softened black or very dark grey, inclining 
