THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



215 



diffused upon the Welsh hills ; the latter distinguished 

 as the soft-woolled, or white-nosed variety. The sheep 

 of the most elevated districts are small, seldom exceed- 

 ing 5 or 6 lbs. per quarter, when fattened. Both sexes 

 are horned ; the nose black, the neck long, and arched 

 backwards, the fore quarters low in proportion to the 

 hind ones, the chest narrow, and ribs flat ; the wool on 

 the sides is short and fine, though somewhat mixed with 

 " kemps," that on the breech being longer, but hard 

 and wiry, while a ridge of coarse hair extends from the 

 neck to the tail, and the throat is also hairy. The fleece 

 weighs from 1 to 2 lbs. The colour embraces every 

 variety of shacje between white and black The mutton 

 is uncommonly sweet and good. The white-nosed 

 sheep resemble the milder race, both in their form and 

 restless disposition. The rams are horned, though the 

 females are rarely so. The general colour of the face 

 and fleece is white, though there is a natural tendency to 

 produce black lambs. The fleece weighs about 2 lbs., the 

 wool being longer, of fair quality, and freer from ' ' iccmps' ' 

 than the other variety. It furnishes the material for the 

 well-known Welsh flannels and hose. Although very 

 small, the breed is larger than the other, varying much 

 according to the pasturage upon which they are fed. 

 The largest are found in Anglesea, where, however, 

 there has been much crossing with other breeds. The 

 mutton is greatly esteemed in the metropolis, where it 

 commands an extravagant price. The diminutive size of 

 the Welsh sheep being so far below what the majority 

 of the pastures might produce, it is a question whether 

 the more spirited sheep-farmers ought to aim at im- 

 provement by proper selection of breeding animals, and 

 due attention to feeding, or whether they might not still 

 better substitute for them the hardy black-faced and 

 Cheviot breeds, the former for the higher grounds, and 

 the latter for the lower hills. The Local Committee, 

 therefore, have done well in instituting these classes, as 

 it is only by comparative merit shown in these competi- 

 tions that these desirable results are made knov/n, and 

 are fully appreciated. 



We now proceed with Class 1 : Welsh mountain rams 

 of any age. — A nice little class. The first prize of £lb 

 was awarded to No. 969, the Hon. Col. Pennant's ram, 

 Penrhyn Castle. The second prize of ^'10 to No. 973, 

 David Roberts, of Plas-yn-y-Cornel, Llansamon. 



In Class 2 — Welsh Mountain Ewes of any age.— 

 Mr. Thomas Roberts, of Bodidris^ Llandegla, Den- 

 bigh, takes the first prize of ^15 with the pen 

 No. 980 ; the second prize of j^lO is awarded to the 

 pen No. 981, the property of Mr. R. B. Mynors, of 

 Evancoyd, Presteign, Radnor, and the third prize of 

 £5 is also awarded to Mr. Mynors, for his pen No. 982. 



Classes 3, 4, and 5 are Shropshire Downs exclusively, 

 and as they corae under the inspection of another class 

 of judges, i. e., Messrs. Halse, Thompson, and Watson, 

 one is a little curious to see how they accord with 

 Messrs. Blundell, Brown, and Thurnell, in judgment. 



Class 3 : Shearling Rams. — The first prize of £20 is 

 awarded to No. 640, the property of Mr. W. O. Foster ; 

 the second prize of £10 to No. 622, and the third 

 prize of £b was awarded to No. 625, both the property 

 of Messrs. J. and E. Crane. These sheep respectively 

 received a commendation in the short-wooUed class. 



In Class 4 : Shropshire Down Rams of any age. — The 

 first prize of £20 was again awarded to No. 666, the 

 property of Mrs. Baker, of Grendon ; but the second 

 prize of £10 was awarded to No. 659, the property of 

 Mr. George Aeney, a sheep altogether omitted in the 

 short-woolled class ; and these judges highly commend 

 No. 660, which takes the second prize in the short- 

 woolled class; they also commend Mr. G. M. Kettle's, 

 No. 634, and Mr. Thomas Horton's No's. 616 and 662 ; 

 the latter sheep also unnoticed in the former class. 



Class 5. — Pens of five shearling Shropshire Down 

 Evrcs.— In this class, the Messrs. J. and E. Crane take 

 both the prizes, with pens Nos. 690 and 691 respec- 

 tively. No. 6!)0 was highly commended, and No. 691 

 commended in the short-woolled class. Mr. Holland's 

 pen. No. 098, commended in both classes. 



Class 6. — Shearling Rams of the Cheviot breed. 

 — The first prize of £20 was awarded to No. 

 9!)7, the property of the Hon. Col. Pennant, 

 and the second prize of £10 to No. 611, 

 the property of Mr. H. R. Sandbach, of Ha- 

 fodunos, Llanrwst, Denbigh. These were highly re- 

 spectable Cheviots, but not equal to many former shows. 



Class 7. — Cheviot Rams of any age. — The Hon. Col. 

 Pennant is again successful with No. 998, and Mr. H. 

 R. Sandbach takes second prize with No. 664. These 

 were really useful sheep of their kind, but not quite 

 frame and substance enough to meet our taste — we have 

 seen better. 



Class 8.— Pens of five shearling Cheviot Ewes.— 

 Col. Pennant and Mr. H. R. Sandbach again re- 

 ceive the first and second prizes in the same order 

 with pens Nos. 1002 and 687 respectively; Col. 

 Pennant's pen. No. 1001, receiving commendation. 



Class 9.— Cheviot Ewes of any age. — In this class Col. 

 Pennant takes both the prizes, and Mr. H. R. Sandbach 

 receives two commendations with pens Nos. 1003 and 

 1004 respectively. 



Class 10 is for the best pen of Shropshire Down Ewes ; 

 and both prizes are carried off by Mr. W. O. Foster, of 

 Kinver Hill Farm, with pens Nos. 1012 and 1013 

 respectively, and Mr. G. M. Kettle received a com- 

 mendation with pen No. 1008. 



We are always anxious to do faithfully and carefully 

 with the sheep classes, as believing them to be of para- 

 mount importance, owing to the variety of their breeds, 

 and the many shades of difference in those breeds j we 

 only desire that our notices may lead to inquiry and 

 reflection. We know the good sense of breeders will 

 supply all that is lacking. We would reiterate that we 

 by no means advocate the breeding of sheep universally 

 of the largest type, but we do advocate the full develop- 

 ment, and the increase in size, proportions, and wool, of 

 every established breed. We have no notion of pretty 

 little Leicesters remaining such, or pretty little South- 

 downs continuing little pretty things. This is not pro- 

 gression. Every breed must be brought up to the cul- 

 minating point, or at least the thing must be continu- 

 ously aimed at— nothing less will satisfy us. 



PIGS. 



THE NUMBER OF PIGS SHOWN AT THE LAST SEVEN 

 MEETINGS. 



The show of pigs is not generally equal to that of last 

 year ; and, indeed, cannot be characterized as super- 

 latively excellent, except in the small-breed classes. Mr. 

 Harrison's large breed boar is admirable for his beau- 

 tiful quality, combined with large dimensions. Mr. Hill's 

 small-breed boar is extraordinary for symmetry, being 

 compact, and with exceedingly nice flesh. In addition 



