Funning of Oxfordshire. 
229 
about Oxford generally have double that number, and sometimes 
as many as 2 sheep to an acre. The Cotswold sheeji during the 
summer are laid about in little lots on the seeds and sainfoin leys, 
while the Half-breds are confined in hurdles consuming green 
crops, and so laying the foundation for a large produce of grain. 
As compared with Short-wools, on tlie other hand, one gen- 
tleman, who had formerly kept Downs, assigned the following 
reason for exchanging them for Down-Cotswolds. Eight years 
ago he had 100 lambs of each sort ; the lots cost exactly the same 
price, were folded side by side, on turnips, tluough the winter, 
and both were fed exactly alike. In the spring the cross-breds 
sold for 12s. per head more than the Downs. In feeding these 
two sorts of sheep on dirty land, the Downs with short close 
coats do not keep themselves so clean ns the half-I)reds. The 
Down is constantly moving about, and will amble round a turnip, 
and walk about his fold, while his less active neighbour will eat 
his fill and quietly lie down. The Downs may have a better 
quality of mutton, but the excellence of Down mutton is not 
appreciated when young. A Down-Cots wold sheep at 15 
months old will produce as good a quality of meat as a Down 
of the same age, to say nothing of extra weight. Certainly, if 
Downs are kept till two years' old they make splendid sheep and 
are much in request, but there are not many farmers who can 
afford to keep Down sheep 24 months, when they can fatten 
others in almost half the time. Where there are extensive downs, 
and sheep are valued for their manure more than for their mutton, 
and can be kept at a small cost till they are a year old or more, 
there Downs are best ; but for consuming crops on arable land 
in hurdles, and for producing a great and rapid supply of the 
best meat and wool (and this is not only an agricultural but a 
national advantage), the half-bred sheep stand unrivalled. 
Some will contend that the Leicesters and Southdowns are a 
better cross, but both breeds are too fine, and will not produce the 
size of the Oxfordshire half-breds. Although the farmers of this 
county possess the advantage of having their two favourite pure 
breeds of sheep within easy distances (the Hampshire Downs 
swarming at Illesley fair, in the adjoining county of Berks, and 
the Cotswold being abundant north of Oxford), yet many prefer 
breeding from half-bred sheep to producing the first cross them- 
selves. They may well prefer breeding their own ewes, which 
is incompatible with keeping to the first cross ; arid as few 
farmers sell their best ewes, it is almost impossible to keep up a 
good breeding flock by purchasing. Tiie old ewes are fatted or 
sold to the Buckinghamshire men, who take one lamb and then 
graze them. Whether fed oflF or sold lean, the half-breds make 
the most money. 
