Southdown sheep no longer economical and smaller flocks averaged only 135 ewes apiece. The use of artificial fertilizers had gained ground, and the combine-drill, which sowed grain seeds and fertilizer together, rendered close-folding by sheep unnecessary. Gradually surrendering to basic arable farming changes, the Southdown became largely a grassland breed. During the interwar years, the United Kingdom was known for farm animal breeding, and pedigreed Southdowns were still being exported to most parts of the world, especially New Zealand. In 1937, the number of exported Southdowns reached 459 head. During the Great Depression, a severe and prolonged fall in the prices of
HMS Southdown (L25) HMS Southdown (L25) HMS "Southdown" was a Type I destroyer of the Royal Navy which served in World War II. She was scrapped in 1956. "Southdown" was ordered on 11 April 1939 under the 1939 War Emergency Build Programme as job number J6602. She was completed in November 1940. She was adopted by the town of Woking in Surrey as part of Warship Week in 1942. She earned battle honours during the Second World War for the North Sea 1941-1945, where she spent the majority of her service. In June 1944 she formed part of the Naval escort force in