414 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. r November 3 , issi. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.—November 2. 
Trade quieter, witli uo alteration in 
Apples . 
i sieve 
8 . 
1 
d. 8. 
0 to 4 
d. 
6 
Apricots . 
doz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries. 
V tb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Chestnuts. 
bushel : 
16 
0 
0 
0 
Currants, Rlack.. 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Red.... 
| sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Figs. 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
ft 
Filberts . 
HP-tb. 
0 
0 
0 
9 
Cobs . 
tb 
0 
0 
0 
9 
Gooseberries .... 
j sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes . 
V lb 
0 
G 
4 
0 
Artichokes . 
dozen 
8. 
2 
VJSI 
, d. s. 
0 to 4 
9E' 
d. 
0 
Asparagus . 
, bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Beans, Kidney .... 
V lb. 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Beet, Red . 
. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Broccoli . 
, bundle 
0 
9 
1 
6 
Brussels Sprouts. 
. J sieve 
3 
0 
3 
6 
Cabbage. 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Carrots. 
. bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Capsicums. 
v too 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Cauliflowers. 
. dozen 
0 
0 
3 
6 
Celery . 
. bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Coleworts_doz. 
bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Cucumbers. 
. each 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Endive. 
. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Fennel. bunch 0 3 0 0 
Garlic . ^tb. 0 6 0 0 
Herbs. bunch o 2 6 0 
Leeks. bunch 0 3 0 4 
prices. 
s. d. s. d. 
Lemons. case 18 0to30 o 
Melons . each 10 2 0 
Nectarines. dozen 0 0 0 0 
Oranges . ^ 100 0 0 0 0 
Peaches . dozen 6 0 15 0 
Pears .kitchen .. dozen 10 16 
dessert. dozen 10 2 0 
Pine Apples .... y tb 3 0 5 0 
Strawberries .... per lb. 0 0 0 0 
Walnuts . bushel 7 0 8 
s. d. s. d. 
Mushrooms .punnet 1 Otol 6 
Mustard* Cress .. punnet 0 2 0 3 
Onions. bushel 3 6 5 6 
pickling. quart 0 0 0 5 
Parsley. doz.bunches 3 0 4 0 
Parsnips. dozen 10 2 0 
Potatoes. bushel 2 6 4 0 
Kidney. bushel 3 0 4 6 
Radishes.... doz .bunches 16 2 0 
Rhubarb. bundle 0 4 0 6 
Salsafy. bundle 10 0 0 
Scorzonera . bundle 16 0 0 
Seakale . basket 2 0 2 3 
Shallots. V tb. 0 3 0 0 
Spinach . bushel 3 0 0 0 
Tomatoes . a* lb. o 8 0 9 
Turnips. bunch 0 4 0 0 
Vegetable Marrows each 0 0 0 1 
POULTRY AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 
IMPROVEMENT OF THE HAMPSHIRE AND WEST 
COUNTRY DOWN SHEEP. 
{Continued f rom page 391.) 
In continuation of the quotation from the paper read at the 
Botley and South Hants Farmers’ Club relating to the raising 
and fixing a new type of sheep to be called the Somerset Down. 
It says, “ It should, however, be only attempted by an owner of 
a farm or the holder of a long lease, for with all the experience at 
command of those who have gone before us it would take from 
fourteen to sixteen years to fix a new type of sheep for the pur¬ 
pose of improving the style and character of the Hampshire 
Downs. We therefore propose that in case only one person 
should engage in the raising a new breed that three selections of 
not less than twenty-five Somerset ewes each should be obtained 
from three of the best flocks, and that three ram lambs should 
be also selected from the best Hampshire Down flocks, and in 
mating the animals this would furnish a change for three years. 
In selecting the ewes these should be maiden animals, because if 
they have never bred a lamb previously the full potency of the 
ram would be obtained (a matter of the highest importance in 
this case) as to fixing the colour of the face and legs of the 
offspring. We have, then, in fact, three separate flocks, and from 
the offspring of each we have the opportunity, in mating the 
animals, of securing a change of blood without deviating from 
the cross or object in view, and if the offspring of each flock are 
marked it will be of some consequence in the future in various 
ways. For it is necessary that all defective ewes (of each 
family), either in colour or character, should be withdrawn, and 
that the most masculine and robust male animals only should be 
selected for use, keeping steadily in view colour, form, and weight 
for age. After using the above precautions we need not be afraid 
of what is called in-and-in breeding, for when we have obtained 
a good family likeness of the type we require we must not think 
of change of blood outside the boundary ; but we may, after the 
type is fixed and the increased stock has passed into other hands, 
go to them for a change, which may prove advantageous through 
the influence of soil and climate on which they may have been 
reared.” 
Quite irrespective of the opinions of the reader of this paper a 
discussion ensued by various practical flockmasters, and a unani¬ 
mous resolution was passed at the meeting, and moved by Mr. Blun¬ 
dell, as follows :—“ That in the opinion of this Club cross-breeding 
is a matter of great importance, and it is to be hoped some person 
or persons will be found who will take up the question of fixing a 
desired type for renovating and improving the Hampshire Down 
breed of sheep.” We cannot give the discussion in full, but we 
cannot omit a few practical observations made by Mr. J. D. Bar- 
ford, Y.S., of Southampton, who said the subject was a very 
wide one, embracing the relative merits of the pure breeds and 
cross-breeds of the country, with especial reference to the Hamp¬ 
shire Downs. In commencing a new breed, or trying to improve 
an old one, there was nothing so important as to study the relative 
advantages of the different animals adapted for the soil on which 
they were to be reared. He left to more practical men than him¬ 
self to say if a new breed of sheep was required here ; but he could 
say from experience there were improvements needed in the present 
type, but these improvements must be carefully begun, breeders 
being very tenacious that the present type and contour of the 
Hampshire Downs should not be materially altered. He alluded 
to the present large per-centage of losses in lambing, and said 
the present fine prize specimens of Hampshire Downs seen in the 
markets were more costly to obtain than fine animals in other 
types, such as the Leicesters and white-faced breeds. The rela¬ 
tive influence of the male and female in the produce was a very 
difficult question, but the broad rule laid down by Mr. Blundell 
in his paper would probably be generally a correct one. He had 
abundance of evidence in regard to all breeds of animals that the 
impress of the parent was made apparent in future generations. 
The 89 per cent, of lambs mentioned was far too low, and said 
these losses were worthy of most serious consideration, and indi¬ 
cated some defect in the Down breed. Most unquestionably by 
careful selection and mating the shape could be improved, and in 
improving it they would be doing great service to the breeders 
of the district. 
Before proceeding further with the subject we will state the 
defects which are to be found in the Hampshire Downs, or to 
which they are reverting in consequence of the tendency to de¬ 
preciation. The faults of the original breed were the shallow 
chest, the straight ribs, the light scrag and bare shoulder top, 
and the breeding their lambs at a late period, with but very few 
twins, and a weak constitution, which subjects the animals to 
great losses in the adults as well as in the lambs at different 
periods. Practically, however, we have found that in improving 
the shape of the animals we improve their constitution ; but let us 
inquire how the outline and character are to be improved. If we 
take the long-woolled breed for the purpose we have more lambs, 
but we deteriorate the quality of the flesh by laying the fat on 
upon the outside of the carcase, the loose open wool is prejudicial 
in adverse climates, and the lambs come late, although we obtain a 
large proportion of twins. Still, as in the Oxford Downs, we have 
a better outline and heavier weights for age. Again, as various 
flocks at present contribute animals to the prize pens in the show 
yards, and are called Hampshire Downs, but they exhibit the use 
of long-woolled blood in their parentage, still they attract the eye 
of the public, and often the approval of the judges ; but they are 
not Hampshire Downs or West-country Downs as we recognise 
them, nor as they are really required for flocks to be reared and 
fed on the chalk hill farms in various districts ; in fact, our defi¬ 
nition of a typical Hampshire or West-country Down sheep is, as 
we have before alluded to, and which we have called the Somerset 
Down, which can only be obtained by mating the improved 
horned Somerset ewe with a short-woolled Hampshire Down 
ram, and producing as nearly the style and type of the late 
Mr. Humphrey’s breed as possible. 
We must now allude to the character of the improved pink¬ 
nosed Somerset breed, which may be described as follows: Some 
of the very best flocks of which we have lately visited are now 
lambing, and show a great length of bt dy presenting a barrel¬ 
like form, deep in the chest, a well-covered shoulder top, and 
short full scrag, with wide hips and short legs ; the body well 
covered with short fine wool, coming down before and behind 
to the knee and to the hock. This is their formation, but their 
attributes are many and valuable such as no other breed can 
reach, except a few of the best horned Dorsets. They are the 
most prolific, not only yeaning at the earliest period a greater 
numbpr of twin lambs than any other breed, but will, if re¬ 
quired, yield two crops of lambs within the year; added to 
this fecundity they are the best of nurses, furnishing more 
