of different Breeds of Sheep. 
47 
irrespective of expenses. Mr. Cresswell stated, that on com- 
parinfi' these wethers with his own ram lambs, he considered them 
not to be quite so large as could be wished ; and he su])posed 
from their appearance that their growth had been somewhat 
checked by the scarcity of food in the previous spring and 
summer. Upon the whole, however, the sheep were a good and 
even lot ; and they may doubtless be taken as fully if not more 
than equal to the average of the breed in ordinary use. 
The cross-breds were supplied by Mr. Edmund Farrer, of 
Spoole, near Swaffliam, Norfolk. They were the produce of 
South Down ewes, with Leicester rams from the flock of Mr. 
Aylmer. Sixty of the cross-bred lambs — ewes and wethers 
indiscriminately — arrived at Rothamsted on October 24, 1852. 
This lot cost 32s. per head. Twenty-five more from the same 
flock — mixed ewes and wethers — were also received on November 
13th ; and this second lot cost 335. per head. 
All the experimental sheep, both Leicester wethers, and cross- 
bred ewes and wethers, were turned into a meadow as they 
arrived ; and supplied at once with some pulled turnips, in 
order to accustom them to such food. On November 15th, all 
were put upon the rafters under cover, where the experiment 
was to be conducted ; and, on November 18, each animal Avas 
separately weighed — the wool being by this time dry. At this 
date, 40 each, of the most even of the Leicester lambs, of the 
cross-bred wethers, and of the cross-bred ewes, were selected ; 
and, from this time, until December 2, when the exact experi- 
ment commenced, they were allowed half the quantity of dry 
food which they would afterwards receive, and in addition, as 
many turnips as they chose to eat. 
As with the Hampshire and Sussex Downs, and Cotswolds in 
the previous experiments, oil-cake and clover-chaff Vi ere the dry 
foods employed ; and Swedish turnips the green food. 
The quantities per head per day of the dry foods, were allotted 
exactly in the same proportion to the average weights of the 
sheep, as in the experiments with the other breeds. It may here 
be noticed in passing, that the average weight of the Sussex 
sheep of the former experiment at its commencement, was 
88 lbs. ; — that of the Hampshires was 113f lbs. ; — and that of 
the Cotswold 113 J lbs. That of the sheep now under con- 
sideration was, for the Leicesters lOlj lbs. ; for the cross-bred 
wethers 95 lbs. ; and for the cross-bred ewes 91j. It was then 
exactly in proportion to these respective weights, that the daily 
supply of dry food was allotted per head for each of the six 
different breeds. 
At the time of the first weighing and selection of the 40 each — 
