The various Breeds of Sheep in Great Britain. 229 
fitablc. The " Exmoor " ewes drop their lambs very early, and 
have the reputation of good mothers for the production of fat 
lambs for tlie London and other early markets. The wethers 
are generally grazed until they are four or five years old, 
according to their condition and wool-produc ing powers ; they 
are then sent down to the lowland farms, where they are fattened 
on turnips and sent to market, weighing on the average from 60 
to 75 lbs. each. This is found to be a more advantageous system 
than feeding them at an earlier age, when the gross v. eight is less 
and the market value of the meat not so high. The meat is 
much esteemed for its fine flavour, and always commands a liigh 
price. The fleece weighs on the average from 4 to 5 lbs. ; the 
wool belongs to the lonff wool class, and is of excellent quality, 
being grown very fine and close upon the body, and of a moderate 
length. It is the practice also to clip the stock lambs, which 
produce each from 1^ to 2 lbs. of beautiful fine wool, according 
to their age and the treatment they have received. When these 
sheep are carefully kept and attended to, on well-cultivated 
farms, their size, fleece, and general characters rapidly improve, 
and many farmers assert that they will return more profit per 
acre than the more highly cultivated and less hardy breeds. 
The principal crosses are with the Lincoln and Leicester 
breeds : these improve both the size of the animal and also the 
weight and quality of the fleece. Other crosses have been tried 
with Bampton, Dorset, and Cheviot sheep, but they have not 
been continued. 
Devo::shire South Hams.— The district in which this breed is 
met with is extremely limited, being principally the southern 
portion of Devonshire, extending from the Vale of Honlton up 
to the borders of Dartmoor. In physical characters they more 
resembled the Romney Marsh than any other breed, though they 
differed from them in having brown faces and legs. Latterly 
they have been improved by the introduction of Leicester blood ; 
this has had the efl'ect of somewhat reducing the size of the sheep 
and of causing the colour of their faces and legs gradually to 
disappear. The points of the animal have been materiallv im- 
proved, a disposition to fatten at an earlier age obtained, and a 
finer fleece secured. When ready for market, at about two years 
old, the sheep weigh from 100 to 120 lbs. each ; the mutton is 
well-flavoured and commands a good market. The fleece averages 
9 lbs. in weight; the wool is long in the staple and of moderate 
quality. The practice of smearing the sheep Is still followed in 
the hill districts ; this of course lessens the value of the wool 
produce. 
Bampton. — This breed takes its name from Bampton, a village 
in Devonshire, in the vicinity of which it has existed for some 
