September 2 , 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 223 
effected a great improvement in the flocks in both counties, the 
animals yielding more wool, having a greater aptitude to fatten, 
and producing a greater number of twin lambs. The next im¬ 
provement in connection with the Hampshire or West County 
Down breed occurred through the intelligence and perseverance 
of the late Mr. William Humphrey, of Oak Ash, Chaddleworth, 
Berks, specimens from whose flock were often prizewinners at 
the Royal Agricultural Society’s meetings. It may be stated 
that it was these splendid sheep which induced the Royal Society 
to admit into their prize list the Hampshire or West County 
Down. These had previously been exhibited in the short-woolled 
classes with a variety of others, and we recollect at the Chester 
Meeting of the Royal Society that this stock as shearlings ex¬ 
ceeded all others. 
The method adopted by Mr. Humphrey in establishing the type 
of his improved Hampshire Downs was as follows. He has said, 
“ I received my first impression of the desire to improve my sheep 
through noticing the manner in which the Cotswold breed had 
been improved by crossing with the smaller Leicester breed, and 
the most robust animals of the produce being selected for use ; 
the thought then struck me that my best plan would be to obtain 
a first-rate Sussex Down ram to put to my larger Hampshire 
Down ewe, in order that I might improve the quality and form 
of flesh, still retaining the size and hardihood so necessary for 
folding on our cold and exposed hills. In consequence I applied 
to Mr. Jona3 Webb, who sent me a shearling by his favourite 
sheep called Babraham, and for two years I selected for myself 
but did not use them, as they did not suit me so well. I then 
commissioned him, without regard to the cost, to send me bis 
sheep which obtained the first prize at the Liverpool meeting of 
the Royal Society ; and from the first and the last two sheep—by 
marking the lambs of each tribe as they fell, then coupling them 
together at the third and fourth generation—my present flock 
was made, not having used any other blood on the male side for 
more than twenty years. I found some difficulty at first when 
putting the first-produce ram to the first-produce ewe, the lambs 
coming too small to suit my customers. To obviate this difficulty 
I drafted out the smallest-bred ewes, replacing them with the 
largest Hampshire Down ewes which I could meet with that 
suited my fancy, still continuing to use the most masculine and 
robust of my rams to keep up the size. Some of my friends 
advised me to use a large coarse sheep to the smallest ewes to 
remedy the defect, but the larger ewe seemed to me the better 
way, and that course 1 pursued, and the using of no male animal 
but my own, the pedigree of which I was acquainted with for 
more than twenty years, has succeeded beyond what I could have 
expected.” Now, we recommend all parties intending to raise a 
new breed by crossing to take particular notice of Mr. Humphrey’s 
mode of procedure, because we consider it not only based upon 
sound principles, but because it has the further recommendation 
of his great success. 
As an improver of the Wiltshire Down breed, originally de¬ 
scended from the Sussex Down, we must introduce the name of 
Mr. James Rawlence of Bulbridge, near Wilton, who says, “ I 
commenced improving my flock by drafting all the small and 
delicate ewes, and the remainder were crossed with rams of the 
Hampshire breed. I bred from their produce for some years, and 
then had another cross with the Hampshire, still continuing to 
cull defective ewes. After I had obtained considerable size from 
the infusion of the Hampshire blood I had recourse to some rams 
bred by Mr. Humphrey of Chaddleworth, Berks. I use my own 
rams, and I also frequently purchase a few of the best Hampshire 
ewes I can get, put my own sheep to them, and use their lambs. 
I also put a sheep of Mr. Humphrey’s to some of the best of my 
ewes, and select rams from their produce, thus getting fresh blood 
without making an entire cross.” Mr. Rawlence’s great experience 
and success renders his observations worthy of great attention and 
consideration by flock-masters in general. 
We must now give the particulars and origin of the celebrated 
new Oxford Down breed, which has been recognised by the Royal 
Agricultural Society as an established style and type of sheep, and 
included in their prize list within the last twenty years. These 
large and beautiful animals, of which the late Mr. Samuel Druce 
of Eynsham, Oxon, was one of the earliest and most successful 
breeders, says that “ the foundation of this class of sheep was 
begun here about the year 1833 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 ex¬ 
periment, consequently there has always been an opportunity of 
getting fresh blood by selecting sheep which suited different 
flocks, and thereby maintaining the uniform character which is 
now established.” Mr. Druce 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 texture, and the 
carcase not deficient in quality ; 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.” Mr. Charles Howard of Biddenham, Bedford, has also 
been a very successful breeder of the same class of sheep, and 
following pretty much the same method of obtaining it as that 
pursued by Mr. Druce. This breed of sheep now ranks very 
high in the estimation of farmers, particularly in the midland 
counties. In referring to the Shropshire Downs, which although 
of mixed origin have also been admitted into the prize lists, 
and to some extent may be considered rivals of the Hampshire 
and South Down stock, have unquestionably sprung from an 
original and local breed called the Morfe Common sheep, a 
locality near Bridgenortb, for a long time, in consequence of their 
being crossed with not only the long-woolled Leicesters and Cots- 
wolds, but also the short-woolled South Downs. The admixture 
of such different blood prevented such a uniformity of type as 
was desirable ; but as the system advanced in sheep-crossing they 
have been improved, so that they are also admitted into the prize 
list of the Royal Agricultural Society ; and at the Chester meeting, 
where they were shown with other breeds, they were distinguished 
by receiving the prizes as older sheep when they had no chance 
against the Hampshires as shearlings. These sheep still vary 
more in character and style than any other recognised breed, but 
Lord Chesham has done more to fix a type for them than any 
other breeder. 
Now, after having related matters as to the characteristics of 
certain breeds it is a question of great importance, and may be 
made valuable by the selection of rams of certain breeds for cross¬ 
ing the off-going ewes or the last year of breeding for the sale of 
lambs or tegs for slaughter, and for this purpose the Oxfords offer 
a better alliance than the long-woolled and white-faced breeds, 
because the butchers prefer sheep with dark faces, as they are sure 
to die with more internal fat, making also a higher price at a 
given weight. We will now give a few of our opinions relating 
to the possibility of raising a new breed, and possessing in our 
opinion some valuable qualities beyond either of our types at 
present in existence. Having been accustomed for many years to 
the rearing of lambs bred from the horned ewes, both of Dorset 
and Somerset, produced by a cross with a Down ram, we have 
often thought if a breed could be established of this cross how 
desirable it may be if carefully carried out. We have been led 
into this way of thinking because many years ago there was a 
little movement in this direction made by some of the Dorset and 
Somerset breeders, who thought that they may give up the idea of 
horned sheep and obtain all the advantages they required from a 
Down breed ; but they soon found that the Downs would not 
lamb early, even in their climate and soil, where the horned ewes 
had always done so. They also found that the horned ewes leave 
a superior fold of manure for the food consumed compared with 
the Downs, and that they could not raise enough lambs from the 
Downs. Some farmers tried the first cross, but they were not 
continued. We have purchased this cross in two instances, and 
they answered an excellent purpose—lambing early in December 
with plenty of twins, and the ewes being excellent mothers 
furnished the best quality of lambs at Easter. In the endeavour 
to establish a fixed character and type between the horned ewe 
and Hampshire Down we should select the former of the best 
class, like those bred by the late Mr. John Pitfield of Higher 
Eype, Bridport, Dorset, whose stock is still maintained in the 
county, his rams having been much sought for. These ewes being 
well-woolled, short-legged, long, deep, and round in the body, 
also yielding the greatest number of lambs, and being capable of 
becoming fat during the time of rearing their lambs, which they 
make of the best quality, would in our opinion if crossed with 
the Down produce a breed having all the qualities which can be 
required if carried out as recommended by Mr. Humphrey, and 
would well repay after some years any farmer of sufficient ex¬ 
perience and perseverance who would not hesitate about the 
trouble and expense. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—In some of the early districts harvest work will be 
forward enough for the horses to be employed on the land in various 
ways ; some of them will be engaged in preparing the land for sowing 
with Trifolium, Vetches, &c. After sowing the seed of these green 
crops upon the cleanest fields, and those requiring the least labour in 
preparation, some work may then be undertaken on the land called 
autumn cultivation ; but steam power should be made to precede the 
horse labour, not only because so much more work can be effected 
within a given time, and more effectually performed, but also because 
it relieves the animal power of the farm, whether horses or oxen, 
of the heaviest work. This is a matter of no small importance when 
