Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1848-10-02
AGRICULTURAL.
From the Southern Planter.
II1E COISWOLD BREED OF SHEEP


as this breed of sheep is being disseminated TO
considerable extent IN various parts Of this country
iave thought that brief sketch in regard history
would be read with interest.
HE original stock from which the present improved
Cofswo!d were derived, has been known on tie Cots
void hls.In Worcestershire Fngland for GREAT lenph
q time ". Y. l.. MARTIN in his late work on sheep
("ne OF the series in "knights Farmers Library y
gives an account OF the breed, from which we rive the
following extracts. The name (Cotswold bv which
the breed Known said have been derived from cofx
OF cofeS having been formerly erected in The district &C.
cuped ey these sheep. for their accommodation They
consisted we are informed Of not .'only rude huts or
sheds. hut OF extensive ranges ofbudings Of three o.
l'uf low 81 res communicating with each other BY
means of gradually slipping asrents or PATHWAYS 50 that
The sheep had difficulty in ascending to the topmost
story. IhaS no room lost and the most efficient
shelter was provided for the flock either by day or BY
night during the continuance of winter, the lamb
Ing season. VI when II deemed advisable house, y
The Coswod breed, was, we are told ancientIv held
= such lah estimation, that Gin l4G7 by permission Of
Edward ~ some Of them imported into Spain nat
as some nave supposed to mn9le with and improve the
migratory line and short wooded Spanish sheep Of ancient
Iri"wn but el her to form the ground work Of new
long wooied stock. to improve some native lonu wool
cd breed from which serge-like fabrics recurring this
kind OF wool might be manufacuredD
he "id Cofswods we're large hardy race Of sheep
blg boned and long wooded and well adapted for the hill
range which constituted their Stronghold To Judge
s'ded deficient in the oreqarters, heavy in the hind
quarters. slow ta'teners, and covered with long aud
"eghty fleece; this latter being variable quality but
always truly valuable as combing wool. But the old
breed now more or less modified, and though has not
merged into The Leicester Tor Blackwell breed il in
many parts deeply mbued with the Leicester blood in
other paris on the contrary where hardness is peculiar
~ essential the cross Of The Leicester has been only ear
7" on 50 tar as 70 give those Improvements which We
h4Te more Than once detailed, the nvaraDe resu Of
eyr 4 single cross with this peculiar strain
iccordlng 10 The situation of Ills farm and the IA ure
I" ls aStHrage does the CatswuId farmer nanare his
h'tN i'-rh rs the prevalent breed may BE- half ots-
Wld and half Leicester. But in sheltered places and on
gmd ant the strain of the Leicester may be found 10
rrpdmlnate while in more exposed situations the farm
f hnGinE the Leicester cross tending not only 10 the
ainuun VI the size Of his sheep and The WEIGHT of his
itec5s, M. q the loss Of due hardness and fertility in
ceases the Cotsvod blood il lis l,ck, and proceeds
fih2F upon the principle of selection than Of admx e
Y rash extent with the Leicesters In both instances
if tFmtr IS right; IN The case, he the means Of
icedn4 II rapidly, and he content with The ss and
'taSed weight OF fleece lis profits arising from early
maturity and from the capabiv Of the land fur FEEDING
II given time more sheep the crossed breed than the
"d 81 as ~ reality, return at quick rata Greater
Nti-hi u mutton than formerly To him wool Is ofsec
oluiy Importance. The farmer whose lana is expose,
a"u aH'ids only scanty pasurage, will find his profit
faeI IN wool than in carcass he could not as
e iaer compete, even If he would with the farmer Of
'"iO H" IulitS ulSlaNt. Dut lie VIII make his
S IN weight of wool. He therefore takes care that the
~ sain shall not prevail the Leicester cross (he
oeehs OF which he IS not altogether unwilling to lose
au adaPs his management to the circumstances in which
rs + placed lie does not Use sight of the fatenng
falles and early maturity; but he little Dses sight
|" aIdhess' fertility. and size, and Of weight Of fleece
= breed which may, perhaps be called branch of the
t"SWod, has rather recently appeared in England, un
'eF NE name Of The Meg Orto dsaires' They have
very successful competitors al the great shows Of
'he iioya Society and The Smithfeld Club, for The pr
z75 On Long wooded" sheep distinct from the Lei
ce>ters.
MT- ROBERT SMITH, in prize essay on the breeding
i' management of sheep. (writen for the ROYAL Agri-
cultural Society thus describes The New Oxfurds:
hey are OF large dimensions, and have great Pm
iVs'ly 10 iaien, arising chiefly from their wide frame
f4eude, and upen texture Of flesh which is Of quick
'"'h' ana consequently expands Itself more rapidly
many others; but they do not possess that eyactness
" Urn 4iiar to smaller animals though they have
Cartilage For sevora! years The male animals
iii zen ra4ery songht after with view to increase
I'M az frame Of other long wooded breeds
.3ib. Cuttirator