SOUTH DOWN SHEEP. That the South Down sheep make the most superior mutton of any knovvn breed, there is no doubt, yet superior as is their mutton, except in the vicinity of large cities. or in localities AN-here transportation to market is easy, breeders do not take kindly to them, and for the reason that in American agri culture the wool is usually considered as of the first consequence. Hence, the larger mutton breeds elsewhere noticed in this work, with large bodies and producing more wool have regained the preference. Nevertheless, many breeders preserve the breed in its purity, and there is no .doubt but in the hill country of the South, the breeding of these sheep and lambs for the mar kets of large cities, should prove most profitable. Within the last thirty years they have been fully as much improved as any other of the breeds of farm animals, and now there is no more pleasant view than a block of pure bred South Down .sheep and lambs, to any person accustomed to admire symmetry of shape, evenness of size, and uniformity of color. In their English history 3Ir. John Ellman was one of the earliest and most distinguished English improvers of this breed. He did not, as was the ease with his g,reat contemporary, Bakewell, the founder of the New Leicester, endeavor, as it were, to create a breed, but took as a basis a selection from the best flocks of the Sussex Down. He first turned his efforts to the improvements of this sheep about the year 1780, and, during a residence of fifty years at Glynde, by the closest _attention and continual perseverance in the well known principles of breeding, brought his flock to a high state of perfection. And it ought to be recorded of him that he exhibited none of that selfishness which, it is to be regretted, character ized Mr. Bakcwell's proceeding; but was so zeal ous in his endeavors to advance their improvement generally, that he was always ready to give every information in his power. Mr. Ellman describes the South Downs, formerly, as being of a small size and far from possessing a good shape; they were long and thin in the neck, high on the shoulders, low behind, high on the loins, down on the rumps, the tail set on very low, almost per pendicular from the hip-bones, sharp ou the hack, the ribs flat, not bowing, narrow iu the fore-quarters, good in the leg, although having a large bone They are also described as having a very light fleece, and were not considered to have anived at maturity for fattening till they were three years old. The Duke ot' Richmond, Mr. Jonas Webb, aud other contemporaries and buccessors of Mr. Ellman, have, with varied results, but continued progression, carried further the work so well begun by him. These sheep, both for symmetry and constitution, as well as for early maturity, noW rank on an equality with, if indeed they are not superior to, the best breeds in the kingdom. In shape and character,
they have altered very much, being smaller in the bone, equally hardy, and with a greater dis position to fatten is combined a heavier carcase when fat. ..111 good breeders. who have devoted much attention to the subject of sheep-rearing, -concur in the opinion that a well-proportioned animal is the best criterion of a good constitu tion and aptitude for fattening. A small head, though an indication of a well-bred sheep, is also accompanied by a want of size ; the head should be of a medium length, and the lips thin. The under-jaw, or chap, should be fine and thin; the cars tolerably wide apart, well covered with wool, full and thin. The forehead should be vvell covered with wool, especially between the ears, a,s itis a great protection against the fly; the eye full and bright, but not prominent. The neck should be of proportionate length, thin next the head, and enlarging towards the should ers, where it should be broad and straight on the top, and not what is generally- called ewe necked. The breast should be -wide and deep, projecting well forward between the fore legs. This is considered an essential point with graz iers, as the breast gives the sheep a greater degree of weight, and also indicates a good con stitution and disposition to thrive. The should ers should be on a level -with the back, and not too wide above. If the shoulder-plates are very wide 011 the top, it is generally found that the animal drops behind them. The back should be flat, from the shoulders to the setting on of the tail. The ribs should project horizontally from the spine, extending far backward, and the last rib project ing more than the others. The rump should be long and broad, the tail set on high, and nearly on a level with the spine; the hips wide, and the space between them and the last rib on either side, as narrow as possible, thus preventing the dropping of the belly; the ribs generally present ing a circular form. The legs should be of pro portionate length; the hind legs full in the inside at the point called the twist; the hock, or hough, rather turning out. The fore legs should be straight from the breast to the foot, and not what is generally called knock-kneed. The South Down sheep, in fact, is themodel of what the hill sheep ought to be, and the flesh, in the fineness of grain and flavor, is peculiarly excellent. The wool is of a very useful quality, but is both larger in fiber and less numerously serrated than the short Saxony, and does not, therefore, pos sess such a felting power; hence it is rarely- used in the manufacture of fine broadcloths. Still, from its fineness and felting properties, compared with the wool of many other middle-wooled breeds. it is highly esteemed; and for flannels and worsted goods, in general, is extensively employed.