On Cross Breeding. 
tlic Hampshire or West Country Down. Their size being less 
than the Cotswokl, they are better adapted for the ordinary 
manajiement of a light land farm. This breed is very similar to 
that first introduced by Mr. Twynam, to which allusion has been 
made, but probably the Southdown has been used as well as 
the Hampshire Down. 
Altliough Mr. Twynam may perhaps have a claim to priority 
in crossing the Hampshire Down ewe with the Cotswokl ram, 
yet from various causes, and probably because the Hampshire 
hills were scarcely adapted for such large sheep, they failed to 
establish themselves in this locality ; whilst a very few yeai's 
afterwards a similar experiment was tried in Oxfordshire, and, 
whether from a milder climate, more fertile pasturage, or other 
causes, the result was a complete success. 
Mr. S. Druce, of Eynsham, Oxon., favours the writer with the 
following short communication on the subject : — 
" The foundatiou of this class of sheep was begun about the j'ear 1833 (see 
vol. xiv. p. 211,* of the Journal of the K. A. S. E.), by using a well-made 
and neat Cotswold ram with Hampshire Down ewes. At the same period 
several breeders of sheep in this neighbourhood also tried the experiment; 
consequently there has always been an opportunity of getting fresh blood by 
selecting sheep which suited difl'erent flocks, and thereby maintaining the 
i.miform character which is now established. 
" As to the result of this crossing I would refer you to the names of the 
following, who usually exhibit at the " Smithfield Club" Show, viz. : — Messrs. 
John Hitchmau, Little Milton, Oxon. ; William Gillett, Brize Norton, Witnej% 
Oxon. ; W. Hobbs, Minsey Hampton, Gloucestershire ; A. Edmunds, Long- 
worth, Berks ; J. B. Twitchell, Wilby, Northamptonshire ; C. Howard, Bid- 
denham, Beds ; William Hemming, of Caldecot, near Moreton-in-the-Marsh, 
Gloucestershire, &c. &c. And amongst ram breeders I would name J. Hitch- 
man, J. Eoberts, C. Gillett, W. Gillett, J. Bryan, His Grace the Duke of 
Marlborough, H. L. Giiskell, Esq., H. Barnett, Esq., all in this neighbourhood, 
and who offer sheep by auction the second Wednesday in August annually at 
Oxford." 
There are few districts in England in which some advantage 
has not been derived from the cross breeding of sheep. Even 
the little mountain sheep of Wales has been greatly improved by 
the Cheviot ram, a larger, superior, but still a mountain sheep. 
At the same time the Cheviots themselves have been improved 
for the butcher by crosses with the Leicester, the Cotswold, 
and the Down. The progeny have been increased in size, and 
fattened more readily. This breed has also been considerabl)' 
improved by selection. 
* In the communication referred to, Mr. Druce gives a table, showing his ideas 
of the comparative -vahie of the different breeds of sheep, the result of which is in 
favour of the cross-bred. He adds, " With ordinary skill in sheep-farming, I find 
no difficulty in keeping the form and size of the animal as it should be; the 
wool of a valuable quality, and not deficient in quantity ; and I maintain that the 
good qualities can be better secured by employing the cross-bred animals on both 
sides than by confining the practice to the first cross." 
