281 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
January 12. 
they are usually kept. The Sussex Downs have still nume¬ 
rous advocates, and although they are found in consider¬ 
able numbers in many counties, yet they are chiefly found 
upon their native hills in the county of Sussex in all 
their purity of breed and distinctness of character. I 
am somewhat inclined to think, that in this district 
climate alone favours the perpetuation of the breed, for 
the soil partakes much of the character of the chalk 
bills of the before-named counties. There is, however, 
one idea of which the Sussex breeders are peculiarly 
tenacious, which is, that they can keep a much 
greater number of Sussex Downs than of the larger 
variety of Down sheep; I have heard it stated, to the 
amount of one-third more. But we have good judges, 
who, after impartial trials and great experience, do not 
allow more than one in twenty in favour of South 
Downs. My own opinion, however, is, that the fairest 
proportion is one in ten, and that will be found an 
ample allowance in favour of the breed. I must also 
observe, that the great improvements in the culture, and 
generally productive state of the land, has been lost 
sight of in this case; for I must claim the advantage of 
superior cultivation as imparting to vegetation more 
nutrition, and, consequently, more capability of sustain¬ 
ing a larger and heavier variety of stock. 
I have considered the foregoing observations as neces¬ 
sary in guiding parties who may be commencing stock 
faiming, and assisting those who maybe desirous of im¬ 
proving their breeds in different districts. 1 shall now 
proceed to treat of the general management requisite at the 
commencement of the breeding season; having, in pre¬ 
vious papers, spoken of the method of keeping the Ewes 
upon a generous and liberal diet, in order to bring them 
forward to the ram. I beg to observe, that the rules and 
manner of proceeding there alluded to will apply upon 
stock farms, for the management of the out-going, or 
that portion of the Ewes intended for sale ; but for the 
ordinary breeding stock, it is not necessary to resort to 
any peculiar or expensive method of feeding; for under 
ordinary circumstances, the Ewes have their breeding 
season, which is somewhat peculiar to soil and climate, 
and which it does not often answer a good purpose to 
attempt to alter. I should, therefore, say, let them be 
kept fairly, and in good useful condition, with due 
variety and regularity in feeding, and the usual advan¬ 
tages of a breeding flock may be expected in return. 
The first thing to be considered is the selection of rams, 
either for the improvement of the flock, or for the 
maintenance of its good qualities; the former is gene¬ 
rally, however, considered somewhat easier than the 
latter. I am aware it is the custom with many ram 
breeders (who may, possibly, be repaid for extra trouble 
and attention to their stock), for them to select sheep, 
and put them to Ewes individually, with the view of one 
animal correcting defects existing in the other, and 
which may otherwise be inherited or perpetuated by the 
offspring. Now, I am well aware, that in large breeding 
flocks, kept for profitable increase, this would be too 
tedious and expensive a project. I, therefore, suggest, 
whilst acknowledging the fact that “ like begets like,” 
that the improvement of a flock may be well secured 
by drafting the Ewes previous to turning the ram with 
them, and dividing them into two or more classes, 
placing in one class those which may be too kind, or 
deficient in flesh and bone, and turning with them rams 
calculated to remedy these defects; and in another class, 
those which are too coarse and unkind, and select rams 
for them of an opposite description ; whilst a third class 
may also be formed, with the object of correcting any 
deficiency in the quality of wool, or other points, which 
are well known to breeders. This plan possesses great 
advantages ; for the general character of a flock may be 
soon raised, at a moderate expense, merely by the extra 
trouble attending the separate keeping and feeding the 
flock during a period of about six weeks. 
Joseph Blundeiu.. 
(To be continued .) 
GAPES, AND THE DISEASES CONFOUNDED 
WITH IT. 
I am afraid that the readers of the Cottage Gardener 
are as tired, as, I confess, that I am of the constant discus¬ 
sions that arise from Dr. Horner’s criticisms on my medical 
articles. Dr. Horner's last letter (page 224), in which he 
states that my experiments, related at page 127, prove the 
roup to be not contagious, shows that we regard medical 
evidence from points of view so widely different, and the 
inferences which we draw from the same facts demonstrate 
that our processes of reasoning are so essentially opposed 
to one another, that I scarcely think it probable that we 
shall ever arrive at the same conclusion on any subject what¬ 
ever. Respecting roup, it is, therefore, useless for me to say 
more. I have laid the facts with which I am acquainted 
so fully before my readers, that they may readily draw their 
own inferences as to its contagious or non-contagious cha¬ 
racter. 
On the subject of Gapes, however, I must be permitted 
to say a few words; especially as I have not hitherto replied 
to the numerous remarks of Dr. Horner on my statements. 
The discussion has arisen from the confounding of two 
essentially disinct diseases, namely, Gapes caused by para¬ 
sitic worms, and Croup, or inflammation of the windpipe. 
I repeat, two essentially distinct diseases, that could never 
have been confounded by any person who had closely 
watched the symptoms of both. 
True Gapes is prevalent amongst chickens ; whilst Croup 
usually attacks older fowls. Gapes is common in the 
spring and summer; Croup is more frequent during wet 
autumns. I have not seen a case of Gapes for some 
months ; and Dr. Horner is quite safe in asking for speci¬ 
mens of the disease at this season, when it is quite certain 
he will not get them. 
It is well known that croup in children is more prevalent 
in wet seasons and situations than in those that are dry; 
and, as might have been expected, croup in fowls was very 
abundant during the past rainy autumn; many cases, both 
living and dead, were forwarded to me, and I also had 
several amongst my own fowls. In all instances I found the 
disease yield readily to one-twelfth of a grain of tartar 
emetic, and warm, dry housing. One bird that I killed for 
examination, during the progress of the disease, exhibited 
no other morbid indications than a high degree of inflam¬ 
mation of the lining membrane of the windpipe. 
I have cases I never for a moment confounded with 
Gapes, as the manner of breathing in the two diseases is 
most distinctly marked; in Gapes, as its name implies, the 
chick is observed to open its mouth at intervals with a 
decided gape, and a muscular action of the neck, as if it 
were endeavouring to dislodge something from the throat. 
In croup, on the contrary, the bird does not gape (strictly 
speaking), but the mouth is kept more or less open, and 
there is always either a rattling noise from accumulation of 
