ACCOUJST OF THE SHOW HELD AT KELSO IX 1880. 347 



Smith's prize sheep was also an animal of much merit, with rare style, good 

 qnality, and apparent usefulness. There was nothing worthy of special 

 mention in the section of two-shear tups. In a large and excellent class of 

 shearling tups, the Judges experienced considerable dithculty in fixing the 

 awards, more especially that, while not overlooking the characteristic 

 qualities of the breed, they did not think it advisable to ignore individual 

 merit for the sake of uniformity of type. However a prominent first, regard- 

 ing whose place in the prize list there could not have been much diversity of 

 opinion, was presented in Mr Clark's magnificent shearling. The exhibits 

 in the ewe section were uniformly good, and the same may be said in regard 

 to the gimmers. The Cour thill pen being prominent in size, quality, uni- 

 formity, and apparent good breeding. One of the most interesting contests 

 in the sections was the Famil}'' Prize Competition, the sheep brought for- 

 ward being generally creditable to the flocks they represented. The Judges 

 were specially pleased with the family likeness and true type of breeding 

 displayed in Mr Clark's pen, and also with the general excellence, and, in 

 some respects more meritorious family, shown by Mr Thomson. 



Of Leicesters only two animals were exhibited, a two-shear and a one- 

 shear tup. They were fair specimens of the breed. 



In the class for Cotswolds and Lincolns, only Cotswolds appeared. Xume- 

 rically the representation was very meagre, a couple of two-shear and one 

 shearling tup, and a pen of ewes comprising the entire number shown. 

 Those shown however, were, without exception, truly made, well 

 grown, smart, well woolled sheep, and altogether very superior specimens 

 of the breed. 



The short woolled was monopolized entirely by Shropshires, which were 

 a pretty fair collection. Indeed, it is believed there has not, on the whole^ 

 appeared a display of the breed equal to it at any previous show of the 

 Society. The entries in the four sections numbered thirty-one. In the 

 section for aged tups some most excellent sheep were to be found. The tup 

 to which the first prize was awarded was a strong, beautifully woolled three- 

 shear; the second prize tup was also an animal of great size and style, although 

 not so good to handle as was desirable. The third prize tup, bred in Ire- 

 land, although a great strong sheep, had a somewhat coarse look about 

 him ; while the commended tup was an uncommonly neat tight sheep, but 

 lacking much in size and carriage. The section for shearling tups com- 

 prised sixteen entries, but the class was not characterised by great uniformity. 

 Some of the tups were too pale in the face, displaying too much Southdown 

 character, and a good many of them were rather wanting in true Shropshire 

 type. The first prize ewes were very good, the second and third prize pens 

 not nearly matched. Gimmers were represented by six pens, and although 

 there was here again a want of uniformity, the class was on the whole a fairly 

 good one. The first jnize pen was clearly considerably ahead of any of the 

 others, but Ixjtli the second and third prize pens were sheep of large size 

 and good quality. 



Of the lour sections for wethers there were only three entries ; but the 

 pen of two-shear Cheviot wethers were very good. 



Only three entries of extra slieep were made. Tliey all belongeil to the 

 Marquis of Lothian, and were of the Breton Ijreed. Each lot was deservedly 

 awarded a silver medal. 



The pigs, though the competition was small, were a good class. 



The poultry exliil)ited were of excellent quality. The Dorking classes 

 were well filled and particularly praiseworthy, as were also the Scotch 

 Greys and Game ; but in most of the other varieties the prizes were 

 awarded almost without competition. 



The entries of Cheviot wool were small, but the quality was fairly good. 

 Of blackfacod whili; wool there was only one entry. The Leicester wool, 

 exhibited by ^Ir Tweedie, was not unworthy of mention. Great length of 



