The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-08-20


An Ohio correspondent writes to in.
quire the characteristics of pure South.
down sheep, observing that some have
black, some brown, and some spotted
faces &c.
There are several varieties and crosses
of the Downs on the market, and it re.
quires great care and judgment to deter
mine what are thorough-breds. Thus,
the Hampshire Downs, said TO be cross
between the old black.faced sheep of
Berkshire, and, perhaps, the old breeds
Of Hampshire and Watshire with the
Southdowns, are larger and coarser in
carcass and heads and their faces and
legs are black.
The Shropshire Downs are still larger
than the Hampshires, with long coarse
wool. and are the result of cross by
Southdown blood upon the common Morfe-
common sheep, and the Long-wools.
They are nearly as large as the Cotswolds,
and have dark, usually black faces and
legs.
The Oxfordshire Downs are cross.bred
sheep-Hampshire or Southdown with
Cotswolds. This variety is not uniform
in characteristics-usually resembling
somewhat the Shropshires with rather
more of the longwool appearance and
form.
Unprincipled breeders frequently eros.
the above varieties upon the Southdown
to give greater size, and then sell the
produce as true Southdowns.
The characteristics of the best South
downs, as now bred, are as follows: The
head, stout and wide between the ears
tapers TO fine muzzle, and is handsome
y placed upon a stout neck or "scrag,
the back aud hips broad and level. will
well-sprung ribs giving straight uppel
and under line OF carcass, as in n 200,
Shorthorn. The face and legs are usual
ly gray or brown, and sometimes notified
but black is not in fashion, though tn,
lambs frequently show darker faces thai
iull'grown sheep. The most approved
face Is one of uniform gray. The South
downs are not classed as large sheep-in
deed the perfection of their forms eivip,
the impression that they are rather small
though the we,hers at ls or % month
old,on good keeping, will make $50 pound
live weight.
The wool is very thick and eve,
throughout, being fine clothing wool
about equal to half or three. Quarter
Merino in quality for the manufactures .
clothing, and superior to the Meripo 70
fiannels. They will shear from four +
Blk pounds Of washed wool, depepdin
upon the proportion Of breeding ewes i
the fock-their yield of milk helm
greater, perhaps, than any other bree
Of the same size, diminishes by much tn
quantity of wool. In quality of Aes
they excel, giving larger proportion q
rich' juicy meat, with fat beautifully il
termixed, than the Long-wools, which fo
hne-grain and high flavor, is surpassed b
no other breed whatever.
Of LoDg-wools, the three varieties bre
IN this country are the Leicesters m
CotSwolds, and the Lincolns, all of wbic
have been so inter-bred that it is donb
ful whether the managers of our fai,
will not be obliged TO discontinue N
premiums for three distinct classes. Tn
Cotswolds and the Lincolns. it is sail
have been improved in form and oualit
py an Infusion OF the Leicester bloo,
while the latter have been improved
hardness by cross from the Cotswold
The true Leicester has fine slim bea,
me stylish ear, with blush, spo.te
tinge, long face, covered with thick fin
hair, but no wool. The carcass is larp
exceedingly round and near the ground
that is, the best specimens of this bree
nave shorter legs than the other Lonf
wool varieties. The wool is of the fine,
quality OF the comblng sort. These shee
have wonderful propensity to lay on t.
indeed, this mutton is sometimes oil
Jected to as being too fat. This breed
also remarkable and valuable for its ca,
ly maturity.
The Cotswolds are rather larger an
stouter than the Leicesters, and il
claimed that they are more vigorous an
hardy, and that while neither their aes
nor fleece are so fine as the Leicester
they are as valuable III the market, an
Weld aFaatau