lleport on tho Sheep Exhibited at Windsor. G89 
Oxford Downs. 
The rise and progress of the Oxfordshire Downs — or, as 
they are now generally called, " Oxford Downs " — is practically 
contemporaneous with that of the Royal Agricultural Society. 
It was only just previous to the first Oxford Show that a few 
enterprising breeders set deliberately to work to found a breed 
which should combine the weight and wool of the Long-wool 
with the quality of the Short- wool. The primary elements, so 
to speak, of the combination were the improved Leicester and 
the Southdown, and in one case at least — that of Mr. Charles 
Howard — these were the two breeds actually used. In other in- 
stances, however, the Cotswold, and the variety of the Down 
sheep then coming into repute as Hampshires, were employed. 
Of the success of the bold attempt it is not needful here to 
speak. The establishment of an Association and the publication 
of a Flock-book attest the present vitality of the Oxford Downs, 
while the excellence which they have achieved has seldom been 
better exemplified than it was in the Windsor Showyard. 
There were eighty-two entries at Windsor, and the thirty- 
seven shearlings were a troublesome lot to judge — being as 
level and good a class as the breed probably has ever turned 
out. The Oxford Downs have attained to a general uniformity 
of type, the dark-brown face and legs, the symmetry of the 
body, good leg of mutton, short, well-placed legs, and bold head 
and neck, being characteristic of almost all the sheep alike. 
The Judges specially praise the shearling ewes, about which they 
remark that they were the best lot ever exhibited. The pi'izes 
were pretty evenly divided. Mr. A. F. Milton Druce came out 
easily first, winning the Champion Prize offered by the Oxford 
Down Sheep-breeders' Association, as well as two Firsts, a Second, 
and three Reserve Numbers to boot. The other prize-winners 
were Messrs. Charles Hobbs, Albert Brassey, Frederic Street, 
John Treadwell, AVilliam Arkell, Robert W. Hobbs, and Baron 
Ferdinand de Rothschild. 
Report of the Judges of Oxford Down Sheep. 
[Classes 173 to 176.] 
The Oxford Down Classes were well represented, and do great credit to 
the breeders. 
In the Class of Shearling Rams there are a great many grand sheep. 
The Class of Shearling Ewes is the largest and best ever exhibited. 
Henet OvEEilAN. 
John Bktaw. 
