1846 . 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
225 
HEW OXFORDSHIRE BUCK—(Fig. 64.) 
The above is said to be a very correct portrait of a 
buck of the New Oxfordshire or Improved Cotswold 
breed, which was imported from England, and is now 
owned by Clayton Reybold, Esq., of Delaware city, 
Del. Mr. Reybold is a son of Maj. Philip Reybold, 
who has long been widely known as a breeder of supe¬ 
rior long-wooled sheep. Accompanying the above cut, 
we received the following account of 
THE REYBOLD SHEEP-SHEARING. 
The undersigned, present by invitation at the shearing 
of the Reybold flock of Leicester sheep, in Delaware, 
on the 18th instant, report as follows:—- 
The flock is in perfect health and fine condition, 
evincing great care and consummate judgment in the 
management, and an improvement in fleece and carcass, 
that after fifteen years of unwearied diligence in the 
pursuit of this object, may be supposed to approximate 
to perfection of form and character. Many of the year- 
ling wethers, as well as the ewes, cut eight pounds of 
well washed wool, with not a broken fleece in the 
flock, while a two year old buck, of the Reybold breed, 
cut eleven pounds and a half of washed wool, of supe¬ 
rior quality and fineness. 
The imported pure Leicester ewes are splendid speci¬ 
mens of that favorite breed, and cannot, perhaps, be 
excelled in any country; cutting fleeces of very care¬ 
fully washed wool, seven and eight pounds each, of 
fine quality and snowy whiteness. 
The imported bucks of the f f New Oxfordshire 
breed,” it would be difficult to describe in language 
that would do them justice. To say that nothing equal 
to them has ever before been exhibited in this country, 
would be but faint praise. Indeed, they must be seen 
and felt, before they can be understood. They were 
shorn by two old and experienced English shepherds, 
who declare they never sheared or saw their equals in 
England, by a long shot. By the most careful ad¬ 
measurement before shearing, they were found to ex¬ 
hibit the following enormous proportions. 
No. 1. 3 feet across the back; 
5 feet from nose to rump; 
7 feet 4| inches in circumference; 
Live weight, 320 lbs. 
No. 2. 2 feet 2 inches across the back; 
5 feet 2 inches from nose to rump; 
7 feet in circumference; 
Live weight, 272 lbs. 
The fleece of No. 1 weighed 13 lbs. of carefully 
washed wool, white, and of silky texture; while No. 2 
cut a fleece of washed wool weighing 17 lbs., measure- 
ing nearly a foot in length of superior quality, and 
which, if it had been left unwashed, would have ex¬ 
hibited a fleece more than 22 lbs. in weight. After 
shearing, No. 1 was found to measure 5 feet 6 inches in 
circumference behind the shoulders; but it would be 
vain to attempt to convey by description, an idea of the 
enormous width and depth of carcass, or the way in 
which the masses of fat are laid on upon the sides, 
breast, back, and rump of the animal. Suffice to say, 
in the estimation of judges present, the carcass would 
cut from six to seven inches thick of fat upon the rib, 
if the sheep were slaughtered at the present time. 
The lambs, a cross with these bucks on the largest of 
the Reybold breed, exhibits a remarkable consanguinity 
of form and character to their sires, and will, no doubt, 
rival them, in the hands of their careful and judicious 
owner, who will leave nothing undone that can be 
made subservient to his purpose, namely, the creation 
of a flock of sheep that shall equal those of any quarter 
of the globe, for wool and carcass combined. We are 
happy to find that enquiries and orders for bucks are 
being made of the enterprising owner of this magnifi¬ 
cent flock for distant plantations. May success attend 
him in his patriotic undertaking. 
Mr. Clayton Reybold succeeds his father in the 
ownership of the Reybold flock. His address is Dela¬ 
ware City, Delaware. J. W. Thomson, M. D., 
Isaac Reeves, 
James Pedder. 
Delaware , 20 th May, 1846. 
High Price of Pears. —B. V. French states, in 
reference to pears on quince stocks, that he thought 
they would not succeed when planted out as standards; 
but in rich gardens they did well, and some varieties, 
thus grown, were much improved in size, beauty, and 
flavor. “ One variety in particular, the Duchesse d’An- 
gouleme, succeeded much better when grown on a 
quince stock. He had seen beautiful specimens of this 
variety sold at three dollars a dozen, some of which 
were retailed at 50 to 75 cents each.” 
Water for Sheep. —The Boston Cultivator states 
the management of E. Bridge, of Promfret, Vt., who 
some years ago kept a flock without water in winter, 
as many farmers practise, and they became poor and lost 
their lambs; while another flock that had water, and the 
same keeping otherwise, did well. He thinks water 
necessary in summer. 
