THE COUNTIES OF FOEFAR AND KmCARDINE. 169 



Olamis for some time, was taken back by Mr Mansell, and fed 

 for the Royal Show at Bedford, where he carried off the first 

 prize in the aged class. He was afterwards called " Bedford 

 Hero," and from him was bred the first prize ram at the Royal 

 Show at Birmingham, and also the dams of the first and third 

 prize rams at the Royal Show at Carlisle in 1880. The next 

 purchase was Mansell's No. 4, 1877, a tup that has done much 

 ^ood in the flock. In 1879 a ram named "Trouster" was 

 bought from Mr Napper of Lochcrew, Ireland; while, in 1880, 

 Mr Shelton's highly-commended ram at Carlisle was bought. 

 The flock at present consists of about a hundred ewes and their 

 produce. The rams are sold when about eighteen months old 

 at the autumn sales. The top prices are invariably obtained. 

 In 1879 a number of young tups were sent to the Birmingham 

 sales, and there they also fetched the highest average. The flock 

 is carefully kept, and is of an exceptionally high character. As 

 already stated, the Earl of Airlie has a small flock of Shropshires, 

 mostly descended from the Glamis flock, while others through- 

 oat the county have some good specimens of this valuable and 

 rising breed. 



It is w^orthy of mention that, with a pen of crosses between 

 pure-bred Shropshire rams and half-bred ewes, Mr Buttar, 

 Corston, carried everything before him at the Scotch and 

 English Fat Stock Shows in 1879. 



Swiiu and Marlccts. 



Rearing and feeding swine receive but very little atten- 

 tion, less, indeed, than farmers might find it profitable to bestow 

 upon them. The following table show^s that in both counties 

 there has been a large decrease in the number of pigs kept since 

 1854:— 



Forfar. Kincardine. 



1854, 8442 3395 



1870, 651(5 2617 



1875, 6918 2795 



1880, 5132 2196 



Decrease in Forfar since 1854, . . . 3310 



„ Kincardine „ . . . 1199 



]5oth counties are well provided with markets for all kinds 

 of stock and farm produce. Trinity Muir Fair, held near 

 Brechin, is one of the most important stock markets in the 

 country. Auction marts, held in most of the chief centres, are 

 now to a large extent diverting the biiyinc' and selling of stock 

 from markets. 



