300 
On Cross Breeding. 
whose large practical experience, both as sheep-breeder and land- 
agent, stamps his authority with considerable weight, observes 
in reply to the author's inquiry, " The last flock of this breed 
(old Wiltshire) disappeared about the year 1819, and the sub- 
stitution of the Southdown commenced late in the last century. 
In many cases Southdown ewes as well as rams were brought out 
of Sussex to replace the horned flocks, but in numerous instances 
the two breeds of sheep were crossed, and by the continued use 
of the Southdown ram the chief characteristics of the horned 
breed were merged in the Downs. The cause of the very rapid 
substitution of the Down for the Old Wiltshire may be found in 
the fact of the large number of enclosures of common fields which 
then took place. The sturdy horned wether was thoroughly com- 
petent to take care of himself when the system of feeding in 
common prevailed, but when each farmer could keep his flock 
separate, an animal of superior quality was preferred." 
In Hampshire, on the other hand, where the same sheep 
prevailed and were valued for their hardihood, and their powers 
of travelling far, and folding hard — properties so valuable when 
the fertility of the light soils was mainly kept up by these 
useful manure-carriers — these sheep were extensively crossed. 
Previous to the close of the last century, the South-down 
sheep had been greatly improved by careful selection, and 
the name of the late Mr. Ellman was wejl known for his eminent 
services in bringing out and improving the latent qualities of this 
valuable breed. About tlie beginning of the present century the 
sheep-breeders of North Hampshire began to bestir themselves, 
and a few enterprising farmers procured some rams from Sussex, 
of the Southdown breed. Finding the experiment successful, it 
was repeated again and again, care being taken to select the 
largest, coarsest, and blackest-iaced rams, which it was thought 
would suit the coarse sheep with which they had to amalgamate. 
How many crosses with the pure Sussex were used we cannot 
ascertain, but enough materially to alter the character of the 
breed, to cause the horns to disappear, and to change the colour 
of the face from white to black ; and, with these changes, to 
impart a more compact frame, a broader back, rounder barrel, 
shorter legs, and superior quality altogether, and yet preserving 
the hardiness and the disposition to make early growth, which 
the original flock no doubt possessed, and with it the large 
heads and Roman noses, wliich form so distinguisliing a charac- 
teristic of the Ilainpsliire Downs, and which are unquestionably 
derived from the original breed. Indeed, it is only necessary to 
inspect a drawing of the original Hampshire or Wiltshire sheep 
to become thorouglily satisfied as to the source from whence is 
derived the (olossal head which some fifteen years since was 
