The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-01-21 00:00:00

I),
known,
begin
this

expellent quality, with considerable aptitude to
fatten, and although we have for years past made more
money of Down wool, for the reasons before stated, I
believe, in future, the balance will be in favour of that of
the horns ; ill, long in the staple soft and fine but the
most particular feature of this breed is the production
of early lamb ;—thie peculiarity induces me to pro-
nouns* them only suited for the best land, a sheltered
situation, and warm climate ; when ruirly spring feed
abounds, good water-meadows, Am., the wether lambs
can then be disposed of to the butcher, in April or
May, and all the lambs, being weaned early, the ewes
have • good opportunity of improving their condition
before shear time, but the consumption of keep by • lot
of horned couples is so great, at • time too when
provender im Most scarce, that Ido not, on miiinary
farms, consider a horn flocks() rentimerative U a Down;
—it is still our custom to enrich the arable land at the
expense of the pasture, by means of folding oar sheep,
and I think that horn sheep will not bear the hard
usage the Downs frequently have to submit to; they
eannot be kept so thick, nor will they do so well on the
short sweet herbage of the chalk downs. In their
natured state, sheep were, no doubt, provided with
borne, by an All-wise Creator, for purpose' of defence ;
but in their artificial and domesticated condition, they
appear to we to be useless appendages, and the vital
energies required for their formation, may as well be
appropriated for the production of mutton and wool.
The only other breed of horned sheep in the county is
the "Portland," noted for the fine flavour of its
mutton, but their number is toe insignificant to call for
further notice; and I will therefore pass on to the
"South Downs ;" the most " Aristocratic," if I may
so designate them, of all the "Downs ;" the specimens
we are accustomed to see at the cattle shows are often
models of symmetry! With them, in pastoral history,
the names of Mean, of Glynde, and Jonas Webb, will
always be identified. The perfection in breeding,
feeding, and training, attained by the latter gentleman
was something marvellous, and the result of his sale
last year will perhaps never be surpassed in the annals
of English sheep farming. The South Down possesses
great merit • ill well adapted for our hills, and their
soils; is hardy, and • good grazer, producing mutton of
superior quality and fine elm* wool. A few year
since, this breed was almost general throughout the
district, but alas I all glory Is transcient, and the
elegant "South Down" is fast disappearing to make
room for his larger, and probably more rent-paying
, brother, the ' Hampshire Down." Anything more
ugly, in the shape of a sheep, cannot be imagined, than
some of the Hampshire Downs sent to the large fairs in
Wilts and Hants • but this is not the sort fashionable
in Dorsetshire. The "Improved Hampshire" is • " pear
from a different tree," being supposed to comprise in one
animal, the good qualities of the other two—namely, 1
the size of the Hampshire, with the beauty and proof of
the South Down. This appears tobe the most useful and
profitable sheep of the day • it has a stronger constitu-
tion, and is more prolific than the South Down, equally
well suited to the usual modes of sheep hirunniron
arable land ; and, allowing that it requires rather more
liberal feeding to bring it to perfeetiou, the extra weight
obtained fully repays the outlay ; and • joint of
"Improved Hampshire Down" mutton, of good guilty,
and well grazed, having • fair proportion of lean with
the fat, is perhaps as economical and desireable for the
table of a ' Paterfamilias," as the most fastidious
hoseekeeper need wish for. My own flock, originally
South Down, I have crossed once with the Improved
Hampshire, and have every reason to be well satisfied
with the offspring. I have lambed one age, and find
them produce more lambs, and to be better nurses
than the pure breed. It is my present intestion to go ,
through once more, which will give me three years of
the Hampshire blood, unless I find the state of the
wool market requires a dash with • more decided
'Long wool," I will only detain you further, by a brief
allusion to • clue of sheep, which I fancy, deserve to be
better known, namely "the Shropshire'. I have never
seen many °Num, brit one of themost eminent breeders,
Edward Rolland, Eeq., 11.1'. of Dambleton Hall, on
whose authority I pronounce them a distinct breed, the.
describes them: "These sheep are without horns, with
fame and legs of • grey or spotted grey oolour • the neck
is thick, with excellent scrag; the head well 'hired, rather
small than large' with ears well set on; breast broad
and deep; back straight, with good carcase; hind quarters
hardly so Wide as the South Down, and the legs clean
with stronger bone; they are very hardy, thrive well
on moderate keep, and are rapidly prepared for market
as togs, weighing on the average 80 lbs to 100 lbs. each.
The meat is of excellent quality' and commands the
best prices. The Owe, are prolific, and good mothers.
The fleece which is heavier than the South Downs, is
longer, and more gloms, in the staple than the other
short wools, and weighs on the average 71b."
It now remains to treat of the general manage-
ment of sheep; and having been requested to notice
particularly the lambing season, so soon about to
commence, I will, if you please, take the flock at the
beginning of November. I would, however, ask what is
the meaning of the term good, or bad luck? so
invariably applied to stock? Is it synonymous with good
or bad management? I think not, in all came, although
Diligence is said to be the mother of good luck. The
mortality among Down ewe flocks during the lambing
time is frequently fearful. I should say about 4 per
cent, are lost on an average, and the lambs reared
nearly 15 per cent, less then the number of ewes put to
the ram. The most careful manager, ari well as the most
Indifferent, coffer in torn. How is this? I ask a
commercial friend, why Mr. A., with his I,oooewes, has
such had luck? "Oh i" he nsplies, "that is easily ex-
plained, his business is so extensive he cannot properly
attend is everything himself—is obliged to trust to
servant* ; we all know what that mutes to, his sheep
have been neglected, or badly treated by his shepherds,
and this is the consequence." Without comment, I
take him to another farm, where resides Mr. B. This
individual began life by keeping his father's sheep-100
ewes. In due time be became shepherd, and eventually,
himself the owner, as well as manager of the flock.
He prides himself on rearing as many lambs as he has
ewes, sometimes more ; and fancies he knows as well
what is good for, and what injurious to lamb ewes, as
the most learned Professor of the Veterinary College; he
not only knows what is right, but does it too, for no one
else interferes with his sheep. 1 ask my clever 0011I-
pinion, why Mr 8., with his small dm*, tended by
himself, is on this occasion no better off than Mr. A.
who depends on his shepherds obeying his orders? This
tirne his answer is not so ready, nor is the riddle easily
solved. The case, though imaginary, is by no means
uncommon ; and the plan which succeeds well one
season may possibly be most disastrous the nest. We
most of us know well enough what will do mischief,
and endeavour to guardagainst it. We know that if ewes
are kept on too much succulent food, such as turnips
and gnu, (the me containing 90, the other 75 per cent
of water) without a liberal allowance of hay, or other
dry fodder to counteract the effect*, dropsical, or, better
known as "water bellied" lambs, may be expected,
which most likely would be cast before their time, and
serious loss ensue. Overfilling or allowing the ewes to
be blown up with gas, from eating greedily of turnips or
turnip-green, would have the same effect, as well as
exposure on wet land, in cold, rough weather. The
grand secret in feeding sheep, of any description, un-
doubtedly is to keep them regularly and well. If you let
them back at one time, and force them at another, you
must expect to suffer loss, but it requires the most
experienced eye to tell when they begin to do badly; and
it ms almost an impossibility to keep sheep up to the
mark in the oren field during • month of wet weather.
Some people may imagine that the farmer's life is all
sunshine. They little know the care, anxiety, and fore-
thought requisite to conduct well the single branch of
our business now under consideration. Unwearied
attention in all weathers must be paid to • breeding
flock, and after all, we must confess that "'Ti. not for
mortals to command success." To return to our
subject; it being November, we will suppose the draft
sheep are all disposed of, and we have only the hogs
and flocks to provide for. They will now, on most
farms, be living on turnip and hay; if the ewes can
draw out and pick about for an hour or two by day,
in • bare eweleam, an much the better. The hogs
being in • large fold before the ewes would eat the
greater portion of the greens, and the latter would clear
up behind with less liability to get too full. I have
never had good lack when hurdling to ewes grass and
turnips at the same time; they will not eat so
much hay, and with two changes are more likely ta
be over-fed. I like them to get their hay the
first thing in the morning, turnips after breakfast,
if not frosty, (hoar frost, I am sure, is very injurious,)
then if convenient let them walk out for two or three
hours, and return to finish their hay and turnips, and
have the cribs replenished in the afternoon, if neces-
sary; this treatment I continue through December and
January, the latter end of the month a few lambs may
be expected. The great objection to having the hogs
before the ewes is, that in wet weather they make the
food so dirty, and after the frost hen somewhat cut
down the turnip green they are better away; it is
else now time for them to begin mains swedes, and
if the crop be good, the expense of having the
roots out and put in troughs will be more than
saved. As the ewe's time , draws near they shoeld
not be allowed to lie in • cold, exposed situation,
on the turnip land; much harm may be done in
one wet night. About this time I like to commence
giving them some gran, it helps to flash the ; the
forward ewes may be picked out, or all put in a fold by
night, littered with straw, and surrounded with thatched
hurdles, and plenty of pens to take the ewe* with their
young, as soon as dropt. It is convenient to have a good
fixed yard, but an open fold, such as I have described,
ismer° healthy. A yard should, however, be in readiness
in case of mow or rough weather, and roots stacked
near for use when wanted. For the first two or three days
the young lambs require every care and attention, and
those short of milk must be assisted. A few oats will
, not be thrown away on weak ewes just now, and oat-
meal gruel, and elder wine as • stimulant, should be
always at hand. If • yard, as is sometimes the case,
begins to smell close and 'unhealthy, the sheep should
be at once removed; that fatal disease, "heaving," is. I
believe, to • certain extent infectious, and an affected
ewe should be taken away as soon as possible. Nearly
every shepherd has some favourite nostrum for this
deadly malady, but to rave a sheep is the exception
rather than the rule, acute inflammation of the
" uterus" is rapidly followed by mortification, and death
soon ensues. This disease may be traced to various
causes,—• close unhealthy atmosphere on the one hand,
cold, wet, and exposure on the other; too much con-
dition hi the animal, as well as toe little,—the state of
the blood is no doubt the predisposing cause. A difficult
labour frequently is attended with no bad result, whilst
sometimes, after two or three days have passed, a ewe
which had gone off with her lamb, apparently all right,
may be seised, and soon dead. Some persons consider
swede turnips too inflammatory for ewes before
lamflb-
lag; but, used moderately, I do not think they ere
objectionable. For • week or more the couples must be
driven carefully to shelter every night, and if wet, or
snow on the ground, some straw scattered under the
leeward hedges for the lambs to lie on ; the dame
cannot be kept too well at this time. and liberal feeding
will soon tell on the lambs. As the erring advances,
the winter grass, late turnips, flu., will be consumed,
and.clower, rye, winter oats and barley, tribunesand
vetches, of which a succession has of course been pro-
vided, supply their place. I may here observe that
through March and April, oats, peas, or a small quantity
of rape or oil cake, may be given to the ewes with the
,regsess advantage, especially to the mothers of the
wether babe, ' "The lainbs teshi to eat from the troughs
with their darns, and they bear weaning bait*, and
can be kept very touch more healthy and thriving, at
a small extra expenze per head; and not otly,your
stock, but your land, will be considerably benefitted.
Happily I have suffered but little from that dread ,
swum, thasseur, which sometimes nearly decimates
the fall of Mahe owl some fames. f aFeeirspe some gentle- '
iile,i•vialliFfilF•an*lteramegfieliintiymtite awn qad
.11d0•4 .•.10 Q. 14.4.1.5 .1

remedy. Clip time now approaches, but, having already
said so much about wool, I will only observe that the
sheep should be carefully washed, and shorn about the
early part of June; if the weather be hot, they will
thrive mull better after this operation has been per-
formed. Too much attention cannot now be paid to
the lambs just weaned, they must have good keep
and frequent change ; if kept in one field, natural
habit prompts them to repair to the BRIM, plaits to
lay clown, and two successive nights on the same spot
in warm weather, is sufficient to taint them, set them
all coughing and scouring, and cause considerable loss;
nor must they be allowed to crowd together in the
shade, or at gataways,during the heat of the day, which
they do to avoid flies. When feeding on vetches, clover,
or rape, it is • good plan to give lambs • fresh bait
twice a day, and pen them at night on the ground fed
during the day. In July and August, afterahear,
clover and rape will take the lambs and draft ewes, and
nothing answers better, or is more healthy for lambs,
than sanfoin, where it can be procured—every effort
should be died to bring out the sale sheep in the best
possible condition, and it is prudent to dispose of them
at about the same time every year. Soule allowance
may of course be made for the difference in seasons. In
September and October an ample supply of autumn tur-
nips can be obtained. Since shear time the flock ewes
will have been feeding the csowleases and clover lays, and
have been penned nightly on the land intended for
wheat, and this brings us to the period from which we
started. With regard to the diseases of the sheep,
" prevention is better than cure," and regular and
proper diet is the best means of keeping them in health.
In most cases, when a sheep in fair condition appears
unwell, the wisest plan is at once to send it to the
nearest butcher. The patient does not generally show
symptoms of being hire till the disease has gone too
to far be arrested. mediae for ordinary lameness,
foot-rot, &a., are too well known to require notice from
me.—Gentlemen, I have thus, in • hasty manner, en-
deavoured to enlarge on the subject proposed, "The
Varieties and Management of Sheep,' an animal, the
study and cultivation of which has not been deemed un-
worthy by scene of the most illustrious men the world
ever produoed. It is our privilege to have an opportu-
nity of emulating their great examples, and by increased
energies, aided by vast scientific and mechanical dis-
coveries, to obtain more sustenance from mother-earth
for her fleecy children, augment their size and numbers,
and thus by sending more food as well as clothing into
the market, improve our own circumstances, and con-
tribute, in no small degree, to the comfort, happiness,
and prosperity of the whole civilized eomtuunity.
(Applause.)
The CHAIIIIIAN said he was not about to anticipate the
debate that would ensue; but gentlemen had now
before them materials for I very important, and he
believed animated discussion, and such being the case,
he begged to remind them that the rules for the carry-
ing on a diimuseion were, that but one gentleman should
speak at the time, and no one should occupy the meeting
more than • quarter of an hour.
Mr. J.F. HODGLS said that the gentlemen present would
not expeee him to address them on the details of the
excellent and very important leoturetthey had beard, as
the subject was one he was not qualified to speak on;
but would simply remark, as showing the great import-
ance of sheep farming, that from inquiries that were
instituted • few years ago he ascertained that the pro-
duction of sheep was greater in Dorset, in proportion to
its area, than in any other courszy in England. Now
this being so, it showed that the question as to promote
the productiveness of sheep farming was one of the
most important that could engage their attention.
He passed a high compliment to the lecturer on his
industry in collecting the statistical details of his
lecture, which were of the most valuable kind, whilst
the more practical portion of the lecture as to the means
of improving the breed and management of sheep, was
one of the most important that could form the subject
of that night's debate.
The VlOll-CRAIRMAN said his friend, Mr. Genge, had
given them a valuable lecture, very practical, and in his
opinion, very conscientious. lie believed he had spoken
pretty nearly the truth, according to his own ex-
perience, with regard to the South Down sheep. Now,
he was one of those who was not ashamed to acknowledge
that he kept that kind of sheep which Mr. Genge bad
called " aristoorate,"—(langhter,)—and he would ask
any gentleman present, were there no aristocrats to cross
with the coarse, big-headed sheep in this part of the
country, where would that pretty kind of sheep—the
improved Hampshire—now be? Without these aristo-
cratic sheep there would base been no improved Hamp-
shire'. He held that Hie aristocrats, the poor Sussex
Downs Were the best of all kinds tdr. Genge had
noticed in his lecture that night. In the first place
they Produced the best mutton, a fact of which aristo-
crats are perfeotly aware, and to the second place they
produce the finest wool. The time had been when this
wool would fetch as high • price as 3a. 64. per lb., and
althpugh their friend in his lecture had shown that
this kind of wool was going down, while long wool
was creeping upward, yet the time might again come
when they would see • change in this respect, and then
what • fortunate thing it would be that they had kept
to the little Sussex, instead of going over to the big-
headed Hampshire kinds, whose hairy shanks looked as
though they had been got by • sheep dog. His friend
bad paid a highly compliment to the Sussex Downs
He had said that by crossing them with the Hampshire,
they would get a sheep of greater weight than the pure
Sussex, and more hardy than the Hanipshire. This might
be so in a certain sense, but though they'got more
weight, they could not keep so many of them. He
would venture to say, that he would keep three Sussex
sheep where they kept two Hampshire. He admitted
that in different situations they might keep
different breeds of sheep, but often if the Hampshire
where placed were the Sussex would do well, they
would be skinned. Be had seen this when the fields
were bare of grass. While his sheep were. thriving,
those of his neighbours were skinning in all directions.
But, independent of the circumstance that the Sussex
sheep were the more hardy, and that in had seasons they
would do better than the Hampshire breed, he could
not admit that they could keep on the same area
of land the same numbet of Hampshire as
they could of Sussex. Another subject had been
touched upon by Mr. Gears. They had been in the
habit of saying, and of hearing others say, " I have had
good luck," or, "I have had very bad luck." It was
got every master who had had the advantage of being
reared a shepherd boy, but he would like to ask what in
this country was • more prolific source of had luck than
shepherd. dogs and gateposts? He supposed that if
they knew all that was caused by shepherds' dogs and
gateposts, they would not feel quite so comfortable, nor
be so surprised s hen speaking of bad luck. With
regard to the feeding of eves previous to lambing, be
had on one omission tried it with very bed effect, and
he had not since allowed his ewes to touch them. He
on that ocoasisn culled out 50 two-tooth ewes, and fed
them with the tags on swedes, and not only did three
parts of Cheat throw their lambs, but several of them
died as well. And yet that was one of the best lambina,'
seasons he ever knew. Mr. Harding concluded hi
remarks by heartily thanking Mr. Uenge for his excel.°
lent lecture. _ .

Mr. T. H. flantrnima said that his experience with
sheep extended over a period of about 40 yearn, and he
oould not fall in with the views expressed by Mr
Harding. He was one of those who liked to speak
well of the bridge that carried him safely
over. He could not but compliment Mr. Genge
on hig excellent lecture ; with most of the views he had
put forward he cordially agreed. They generally sheared
their sheep three or four times, and supposing the
Hampshire Aeon produced a pound more wool at each
shearing, this would make a difference between the two
kinds of sheep of about 6a. a-head. He once sold four
fleeces off one ram, weighing unitedly 441bs. Be
always endeavoured to breed from the best sheep—
those which had the thickest and heaviest fleeces.
What they wanted was heavy 'fleeces, as heavy wool
fetched as much money per lb. in the market as the
light. He also preferred a large sheep to an aristocratic
one, as he always found that a large sheep brought mote
than a small one when it went to the butcher. He had
tried the crossing of his sheep with the Sussex. He
kept a pedigree book, and bad done so for the last
seven or eight-and-twenty years,and he found thathe had
never made out so well as when he kept wholly to the
improved Hampshire. He always selected for size and
quality. Mr. Harding said they could not keep a
Hampshire sheep where they could keep a Sussex sheep.
Now, he would like to know how he made that out—
would any one give them the data on which their c..lm-
lations were based? He this year fatted 190 old ewes.
They had previously lived like his other store sheep,
and on the 9th September he valued them at 40s. each,
which he thought all would agree was a high price at
the time. He would tell them what he had done shim.
They hod- eaten 7 acres of turnips, which, at £2 per
acre, would be £l4. They had also eaten 6 acres of
swedes, at £4 per acre, amounted to £24; °Rieke,
£l3B 12s. 6d.; seven tons of hay, at £2 per ton, fodder-
ing price, t4;-£ and 20 weeks' attendance, £B, making
£l2B 12a. 6d , which, together with 40s. each, made a
total coat of £5OB 12s. 6d. The lowest price at which
be had sold any was three guineas each, and he had
obtained as ?sigh as £3 Bs. each. He estimated them as
averaging £3 4s. 7d. each, making a total of £613
10s. 10d., thus leaving a balance in his favour of £lO4
18e. 44. Now, if it could be shown that the South
Downs could do better than this, then he would say
something in favour of the aristocratic sheep. The
Only fault the butchers found of his sheep were that
they were too fat for their customers. Now he would
just say one word as to leashing. Last year he had
very bad lack from what be considered to be very bad
management. The weather was very cold—so cold
that he could scarcely abide there, and the consequence
was a large number slipped their lambs. He ought to
have removed them, _,Be had never considered swedes
objectionable Jor ewe 'sheep, provided hay *as' also
given before Thwl required to be walled a
few days beforAtbey Weieeaten. or they would some-
Unwed° Mirobeist, sdiabictlqm were feeding mama awedes
at the present thee, leek lUiey had been up for the last
the week* or month. . ;

,
Mr. Dnurbetrx=x his inability to give an
4:entse of one breed of sheep over
her—ilirt tin which their Vmeehairman and
Mr. thunder( Vern nfippsed. He thought that every
farmer ought to.,.knotv, after being on his farm some
length of time, *that mere the most, profitable breed for
his own farm.- Me had-hitherto-kepi-tett» '-tiiristo-
antics," as they bad been termed, as from the thinness
of his soil, he considered his farm best adapted for that
breed; but on strong land he believed that the lareer
breeds were more suitable. As regarded the slippihg
of lambs by ewes, he would just give his experience for
some years past. He did not object that shepherds'
1 dogs and gateposts was a fertile source, but there was
another cause. He believed if they gave their sheep,
and, indeed, any sort of stock, hay that had been over-
heated, or that was fusty, it would cause them to east
their young. He begged to differ from the previous
speakers, as regarded placing sheep in exposed situa-
tions. Some years ago he ran his sheep upon rape and
turnips,they were neveroff the turnip field, and he never
had better luck with them. He should observe, how-
ever, that he always gave his ewes plenty of hay, to
imunteract any ill-effects from wet food. He believed •
very great deal depended upon this, and that too much
care could not be taken not to give them that which
was fusty or heated As regarded thebreed of sheep, he
believed that if he were ever induced to change his, it
would be for the Shropshire Downs, which, with the
exception of the "aristocrats" were the handsomest.
Mr. W. MANNELD, in alluding to the classification
of sheep, said the lecturer had referred to the Portland
sheep, am a distinct breed, whereas they were nothing
more than the old Dorset born sheep ; awl to prove
that such was the case, if any one would bring him a
few of the celebrated Portlands, and allow him to keep
them • few years, he would 'produce sheep which' they
Woldd,P/tblabl, 11) dheteguieh from the Dorset horned

sheep. They were small in consequence of the land on
which they were kept without change. With regard to .
the 50 ewes which Mr. Harding said he had culled from '
the others and kept upon swedes, he supposed they were
the 50 worst he could pick out, and not the 50 beat,
as the term "cull" would imply. Ile had learnt that
Johnstone, Walker, and all the authorities, defined the
word cull in this way, "to pick," "to choose," and no
man in his eensee would cull or pick the worst, nut
would do as Mr. Saunders is said to do, choose the
best: In thia ease he imagined that Mr. Harding
had, contrary to the meaning of the word, begun at the
other end, and culled the worst. [Mr. Harding : You
are right.] Well, such being the case, the comparing
these with the others, would go a good way to 'sweet
for his bad luck. The loss from 50 of the worst ewes,
he should imagine, would be three times as great as
from the ordinary flock, If they picked out 50 of the
worst sheep, whether for experiment or otherwise,
they must expect the worst luck from them. As re-
garded the breed of sheep, and the kind best suited for
the confity, bt oonne he was not capable of giving an
opinion, but he took it that if a certain amount of food
were given to any animal of any breed—provided the
anon al be good of its kind—it would, if properly planed
before the animal, produce an equal amount of flesh.
He took it that a given weight of food would produce
as much weight of mutton upon the bones of the aris-
tocrat as upon the larger breed of sheep. Then they
most ask, when this meat warn produced, wild they get
a larger amount of money for the same quantity placed
upon small hones than they could upon Jorge bones?
He believed they could. On Monday morning last he
, was in Smithfield market, when be saw seine sheep
marked, " T.S." "Holloa," he said to himself "Here are
Thomas Homer Saunders, I must see these sold." In
the next pen there were other sheep, of smaller
breed and not so fat. In conversation with
the salesman he asked him which kind sold
best, and he replied the smallest. The large'
were not worth so much by a penny per lb. for killing,
and were the worst kind to sell that were brought into
the London Market. Now if, as he supposed, a given
weight of food would produce an equal weight ef meat,
in either the South Down, or Hampshire breeds, if
proved, he thought that it was most profitable to put it
upon bones that would secure the highest price at
market. Mr. Gauge had told them that they must feed
their sheep highly to increase the quantity of wool, but
he forgot to mention the fact, that by increasing the
quantity they deterioratedthe quality. He had attended
the wool sales in London,and he had been to wooldealers,
and on his describing Dorsetshire wool, had been told,
"by high feeding you have lost nearly a penny a pound
in the value." The fact is, you have got an increase in
weight, butyou have lost in gelidity, and we are obliged
to go to the foreigner for the finer sorts."
Mr. CRANE said he always fed his ewes on swedes,
and he never wished for better luck with his lambs
than he had bad. He gave them hay early in the
season, and did not allow them to lie on the turnip land
on wet nights. When be fed them on turnips and
mangel, he allowed the hogs to go before the ewes to
eat off the leaves. As far as his experience went, lie
would rather have swedes for his ewes than turnips. He
had them up two or three days before the ewes ate
them. _ _

Mr. OLLPIN thought that ewes suffered more from
exposure to the weather, than from eating different sorts
of food. They often read that they should not keep
their ewes too well, but Le thought th,tt in this county,
they did not keep them well enough. When their
bellies were full, they were better able to withstand the
sold than when they were empty.
. . .

,
The CHAIMMAN congratulated' the meeting, not only
upon the importance of the subject that had bees
brought before them, but also upon the interesting and
comprehensive manner in which it had been handled.
The statistical portion, which was undoubtedly taken
from good authorities, was eufficient to satisfy any one
of the importance of the subject. He only wished Mr.
Gene's time would have allowed him to go more into
detail, as to the other breeds of sheep which were
kept in this country. He was at the Baker-street
Bazaar a short time since, and the only bread
of sheep that he noticed as deserving of attention.
besides those kept in this country, was a white faced
sheep without horns, from, be supposed, the borders of
Wales, very superior to the Welch mountain sheep,
with long fleeces, and of good fattening qualities. The
worst that he saw at the show was • cross of the coarse
Hampshire breeds. The question that evening had
turned upon the sorts of sheep most profitable to keep.
He thought the kind of sheep selected should be that
best adapted to the land on which it was to feed. But
p) even that depended u how the farmer was accus-
tomed to keep his sheep. hey might keep large sheep
better adapted for the 8 aller sorts by using a large
quantity of artificial food. And as to the question of
food, to quote the saying of Mr. Granger, formerly of
Waterstone, and afterwards of Piddletown' "good luck
was good management, and bad luck was bad manage-
ment." Then as to the question of lambing. It was one
ofmostimporiant questions that could be brought before
the notice of the British farmer. And among the
Dorsetshire farmers there was great discrepancy of
opinion. One farmer said, that according to his expe-
rience, he always had capital luck from feeding with
swedes, while another said he bad very bad
luck. His idea was that they must take into considera-
tion other circumstances, besides the food—the predis-
position of the sheep to disease; the health and spirits
of the animal. He did not think it was well to induce
the sheep to eat too mash. They should never be
hungry, and they should never be full. Mr. Saunders
had told them that in reference to the production of
the improved Hampshire breed, he objected to crossing
them with the South Downs. He selected sheigigood
quality, and of good wool. He would morel , the
question forcibly struck him whether, to pr lire the
improved Hampshire, they were not a cross of the
South Down somewhere or other, souls time before!
• His own opinion was that the high quality of the im-
proved Hampshire was obtained by caroming the old
Hampshire, at some time or other, by the South Down.
He thought on this occasion they should speak in
general terms rather than personally; but as Mr.
Saunders had told them of the fleece he bad obtained
off one of his rams, he (the Chairman) would just state
that he once had a South Down rain that was clipped
six times, and produced on the whole &fibs. of wool,
and what rendered this the mere extraordinary, the
first clip weighed only 6 lbs. In reference to the
crossing of sheep alluded to by Mr. Galpin, he did not
think the Shropshire sheep was so distinct • class as to
render its being crossed with 'the Hampshire, undesir-
able. It appeared to combine • great deal of the
Leicester or Cotswold Down, but to select one for
crossing, considerable care would be necessary, as they
were generally very deficient in scrag. The Chairman
concluded by cornplinieoting Mr. Gauge for haying
given them so valuable a lecture, and introducing a
subject which bad been taken up so animatedly.
Mr. GENGI briefly replied to the obeervations made
by some of the speakers, and • unanimous vote of
thanks having been given him OD the proposition of Mr.
Hodges, the meeting separated.

WETMOUTII.—MIDDLE Senor:L.—The annual
distribution of prizes to the most deserving scholars
belonging to the Middle School took place on
Monday. There was a large number of the parents
of the children and visitors present. The Rev.
Talbot Greaves previous to handing th.: rewards to
the boys, add:eased the meeting at considerable
length. He said that the scholars had acquitted
themselves very satisfactorily during the past year.
He was not present twelve menthe ago when the
distribution of prizes took place, and it occurred to
him that on that 'occasion too much praise was at
that time bestowed on what had been done. The
school laboured under great disadvantages. Some
parents, after sending their boys a short time, be-
cause they did not get on so fast as they had antici-
pated, would withdraw them ; while other boys were
such as had gone the round of all the other schools
in the town. On the whole, however, there was
much cause for encouragement. The present state
of the school was gratifying, and the progress of the
scholars satisfactory. The boys were afterwards
addressed by the rector in appropriate terms. The
prizes were as follow :

SCHOLAR/SHIPS.
John Dodson, for 2nd clan prise in let division, sth
in Home Studies, ditto, and let in French, ditto;
John Robertson, for let class prize in 2nd division,
and 2nd in Home Studies, ditto.
These scholarships, the gift of the members for
the Borough, are eligible for • year, and are liable to be
forfeited on removal or misconduct.