Agriculture of Berkshire. 3D 
before, particularly if thoy have a piece of sainfoin to run out 
on. Aft(>r the rape is cleared, the forward turnip-land, which 
is to be ])!ant<>d witli wheat, is next fed off; here the ewes fold 
behind tlie lambs, and clear up after them. 
The rams are turned to the ewes about the end of August or 
beginning of September. These are extensively purcliased from 
the well-known flocks of Mr. Humfrey, of Oak Ash, near Want- 
age, and Mr. Stephen King, of Old Hayward, near Hungerford, 
Avho have long been celebrated as breeders of Hampshire (jr West- 
country Downs ; Mr. T. Fuller, of Compton, near llsley, has 
also been a successful breeder for the last few years. 
Brecdiiuj-floclis for Selling or G'ozing. — As cross-bred sheep 
have increased much in favour wiiliin the last few years, those 
who produce them have been oblig' d to sacrifice their own 
stock and go into the market for their ewes ; these are pur- 
chased at the fairs in this county and Hants about July and 
August, and are the sale or draft ewes from the regular breeding- 
flocks : younger ewes may now and then be bought, but they are 
comparatively few. The ewes are put to white-faced rams, of 
the Gloucester or Leicester breed, and throw their lambs very 
early. Some fatten their lambs and ewes together ; others treat 
them as store-stock, and sell out in the autumn ; and a few 
fatten their tegs, and send them to the London market in spring, 
after taking their wool. This description of flock is very- 
remunerative when ewes can be bought in at a reasonable price : 
but, when this plan is too generally adopted, an undue demand 
is created for them, and they sometimes cost more than they 
make when fattened, and, if they are not fattened, but sold again 
(sometimes to breed another lamb), a considerable sacrifice has 
to be submitted to. 
Dry-jiocliS. — Several of these are to be found in different parts 
of the county, although they bear a small proportion to the 
whole. These, in many instances, are bought in as lambs or 
two-tooth sheep in June and July, and sold out in the following 
April and May, for the most part fat. Some farmers keep fat- 
tening out and buying in, as they have room and feed ; here the 
cross-breed are decidedly in favour. About two sheep per acre 
of these two last descriptions of flocks are kept in most seasons : 
but the number varies according as the prospect of keep is good 
or bad. 
It would be out of place here were I to recommend one 
description of flock in preference to the other ; the farmers 
ot this county generally are too good judges to suppose for 
a moment that it is a matter of fancy or opinion as to which 
they should keep : circumstances over which they have no 
control ought, and I believe do, most frequently decide the 
