What has been said of the Hampshire Down may almost be said over again of the Oxford Down, its characteristics being much like that of the Hampshire, saving that the fleece is longer, partaking somewhat of the nature of the Cotswold, and the lambs have not quite the early maturity of the Hampshire Downs. Oxford Downs when kept in health are very profitable sheep in America as at home, and Oxford rams are often used in Scotland for crossing upon the mixed Cheviot and Border Leicester ewes. They have been used in our own country with good results for cross breeding. Oxford Downs thrive particularly well in a cool location, and in Pennsylvania their best habitat would be upon the higher altitude of the mountains, provided there could be given them sufficient rich forage, as it is not a sheep for scant picking, and will hardly prove as profitable on thin pastures as the smaller "Downs." But upon any generous farm, when properly managed and kept in health, the Oxfordshire Down will prove profitable and satisfactory. The appearance of the Oxford is, to the casual observer, much as though it were a very large Shropshire, but upon close examination, of a very dif ferent character, as is shown. The fleece is coarser and longer and not so thick set upon the skin, the bone heavier and the covering about the head not so complete.

THE SUFFOLK DOWNS.

The Suffolk Down is one of the few survivors of the old county breeds of "Down" sheep which inhabit the chalk hills of southern England. Only the Suffolk Down and Southdown have remained unmixed and "unimproved" by other blood. In England the Suffolks are quite highly esteemed, particularly since their lambs have of late quite often commanded the top prices in the Smithfield market, and now and then won distinguished honor at the royal show. Rather better growth has been secured on these Suffolk lambs than from any other of the "Down" breeds, and the mutton sells extremely well. The appearance of the Suffolk is attractive, although to the writer, the other "Downs" are rather more beautiful. The face and legs are extremely black, there is little wool upon the head or between the ears and there is usually a little greater length of leg than with some other "Downs." After all, "Handsome is as handsome does," and in this respect the Suffolk breed undoubtedly bred for utility when other "Downs" were being bred for fancy points, has led the procession. The Suffolk, like the Hampshire, is a sheep demanding and deserving the best methods and care, and not at all to be recommended to the man who wishes an animal capable of "roughing" it and picking a scanty living from insufficient pastures.

THE DORSET HORN.

It is with some hesitation that the writer approaches the subject of the Dorset Horn, or the Dorset as it is commonly termed in America, seeing that he has so long been an ardent admirer of this breed, which causes him to fear that he may err by giving undue prominence to his favorites. (See Fig. 6.) With this caution to the reader, however, we will proceed to consider this, one of the oldest British breeds. In the south-west of England lies the county of Dorset

shire and adjacent county of Somerset. Very fertile these counties are, beautifully diversified by hill and valley, covered with lovely farms and homesteads, set thick with tiny villages, but without any notable cities. The soil of Dorset varies from a thin chalk upon the Downs to a rich clay loam. The climate is very mild, owing to its location and proximity to the sea. For many centuries this has been a land inhabited by farming people, a land prized and jealously guarded, as has been proven by the remnants of ancient earthworks built before the days of the Romans. Centuries ago, before cows were much used in dairies in Dorsetshire, it is said that sheep were the commoner dairy animals and from this beginning probably came the Dorset Horn of to-day, with its wonderful milking powers, its great fecundity and its ability to yean at any season. The original Dorset sheep was a large, rather coarse, long-legged breed, with both sexes having horns, not very comely to the eye, but having wonderful powers of maternity before mentioned. It is a curious fact that both sexes of Dorsets have horns, and so far as we know, have always had horns, seeming to point to a primal origin quite different from that of some other English breeds. All efforts to improve the Dorset sheep by mingling the blood of other races, have proved unsuccess ful, so that improvement has been made strictly within the breed. Within the last twenty-five years great change has been made in the Dorset sheep. Without dwelling at length upon points of form. which in the main should be the same in all breeds, the ideal of which all breeders hold in common, it may be said that the Dorset of to-day has much the form of the Southdown, with added size. There is, however, a little less symmetry, especially about the back, with generally a larger pelvic development and more udder. The faces are pure white and there may be a little wool upon the forehead, although original Dorset Horns were bare about the head. The horns of the rams are very large and curve spirally forward, so that they appear as though looking through a pair of enormous spectacles. The ewes' horns are much lighter and curve forward and inward, rather in front of the eyes. Dorset rams should possess every appearance of masculine vigor, with large bone and moderately short, strong legs. The horns of the Dorset are not so much of a superfluity as are horns upon cattle, seeing that the mental qualities of the Dorset sheep inclines it to be pugnacious, and to stand its own when strange dogs come about, even perhaps to take the aggressive and drive intruders from the field. This trait is especially marked when the ewe has a young lamb, and even the collie well known to the flock, finds it prudent to then give the ewes a wide berth. This trait of the Dorset has led to their being extensively advertised as "dog proof," which they are not, of course. Dogs can, and will, kill Dorsets if they are already trained sheep killers, but the Dorsets put up a very hard fight before surrendering, and it is certain that dogs would never learn sheep killing upon a Dorset flock. The wool of the Dorset sheep is quite thick, rather fine, very white and elastic, so that when well fitted specimens are clipped into shape for the fall shows, they present a very even surface, and the hand pressed upon the wool leaves no imprint. Well-bred Dorsets shear about with the Shropshires, hardly heavier, and the wool commands as good a price as any of the English breeds. But the distinguishing characteristic