DOWN SHEEP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2130, 20 December 1894, Page 24

DOWN SHEEP.

In view of the greater attention the various classes of Down sheep are afc preseat attracting, we have pleasure in presenting our readers with excellent illustrations of the four principal Down breeds, printed i » *■»■» ■ i•> ockn placed at our disposal by Messrs William Cooper and Nephews, the proprietors of Cooper's sheepdipping powder. "Wo supplement the illustrations by a short description of each breed. SOUTHDOWN.

No reliable intormation exists regarding the early history of taia breed (from which all the Down varieties are descended), which has existed for generations upim tho chalky soil of Sussex. Thti modern Southdown is a perfect model of " quid g«ar in little bulk.' 1 being very hardy, easily kept and fattened, and yielding mutton of the nnesb quality. Th« ftwes are good mothers and usually very prolific. The wool is clot«e, short, aud fine, weighing about 4-lb per fleece.

sll HOPS 111 RE,

Th's favourite and comparatively modern breed seems capable of making itself at homo in almost >»ny pare of the world — flourishing in Britain, France. G-ermsmy, Canada, United (States, South America, and elsewhere — and is fumed f-r perfection of form, size of carcase, tine quality of mutton (Having h, large proportion of lean meat to fat), arriving early afc maturity, possessing a robust coos'i'ution, and producing good quality and weight of wool — 61b to 81b per lleece. The ewes ate good nurses and very prolific. Kams of this breed have of late years been very extensively employed for crossing purposes, aud h-we beeu found very impressive in imparting good qualities to their progeny. "The skm should be a nice cherry colour ; the face and legs soft black, not sooty or rusty brown, and they should be free from all white specks.

OXI'OHD DOWN

Tnih large breed owes its origin to the crossing of Hampshire and Southdown ewes with Cotswold rams. The face is dark in colour, and the body thick aud well proportioned. Oxfords are easily fattened, come early to maturity, attain he*vy weights (1201b to 1401b at 14- mouths old being nothing unusual), and produce mutton and wool of fair quality, the fleece averaging 71b to 81b.

HAJU'SIHUE DOWNS.

The modern Hampshire is the result of crossing the old breeds of Hampshire aud Wiltshire ewes with Southdown rams, and may be regarded as th« largest and coarsest of the Down varieties. They are not very kindly feeders, and come somewhat slowly to maturity. The wool is of fine quality, short in the staple, and averages about 41b or bib per fleece.

■V Holly and Ivy as Ohbistmas Emblkms. — It was noticed in London that this last Christmas there has scarcely been any holly and ivy in the streets, and none in the window decorations. It is not that there has been a failure of the crops, or of the means of getting it— tbe failure has been of the custom. In Dicken&'s Christmas books holly and ivy are as much part of Christmas as beef and turkey. We keep our beef and turkey, but we seem to be discarding our evergreens.

*£* The man who makes you a Christmas present just before the time expects to get boinething in return.