The Agriculture of the Cotswolds. 
33 
a i we . e ^’ and carters and stockmen received much less than they 
do at the present time The actual money paid for labour on 
an ordinary Cotswold farm where ram breeding is not practised, 
and where pedigree cattle are not made a speciality, averages 
about 20s. per acre per annum. 
Turning to the live-stock of the district, the Cotswolds have 
been celebrated for centuries past for the flocks of sheep that 
were pastured on the wide and open downs. When the villa at 
hue d worth was excavated, evidence was found showing that the 
Komans spun and wove wool into cloth at that place, and we learn 
from Stowe s “ Chronicles ” that in the time of Edward the 
fourth the fine Cotswold wool had a European reputation, and 
that the sheep were exported into Spain, where they “ mightilv 
increased and multiplied to the Spanish profit.” But these 
flad little m common with the sheep of the present day, being 
nne-woolled, and they were, perhaps, the ancestors of the breed 
known as the Ryeland. The modern Cotswold is believed to 
iiave been derived from the native breed altered in character bv 
being crossed with the old Midland long-woolled sheep, and 
later again crossed with the Improved Leicester originated bv 
Bakewell of Dishley about 1750. Rudge, in his Agricultural 
Survey published by the Board of Agriculture in 1807, remarks 
mat the pure breed is become scarce in consequence of the 
introduction of the New Leicester by which it has been in 
some points improved.” It is well established that in the early 
years of the eighteenth century Cotswold breeders regularly 
went into Leicestershire to buy rams, but for many years the 
breed has been entirely maintained by selection without 
crossing, and has now its Breed Society and Flock Book. 
The Cotswold sheep of to-day is well adapted to the soil 
and climate of the district, although it has not maintained its 
position against the invasion of the Oxford Down. It is horn- 
less with white or speckled face and shanks, the head carried 
by a rather erect neck set off by a curly topknot. The fleece 
is of long curled wool, in good flocks averaging 10 lb., which 
covers a wide symmetrical body. It is celebrated for 
constitution and early maturity, and easily reaches 20 to 25 lb. 
a quarter when sold to the butcher. When fat mutton was 
more saleable, and the sheep were pushed, 40 lb. a quarter was 
not an unusual weight. 
It is characteristic of these hardy sheep that they are quiet 
m disposition and do not break bounds, and that they are not 
subject to footrot. They also have the peculiarity of individually 
spi eading themselves over the field they are grazing, whereas 
Down sheep, that have perhaps acquired the habit from 
generations of close folding, feed in company. They enjoy 
some popularity in Canada and the United States of America, 
VOL. 74. c 
