204 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



some reasonable explanation of this defect. Mr. 

 Handy's No. 638 is a very good sheep, and in character 

 with Mr. H.'s flock. Mr. T. B. Browne exhibits some 

 extraordinary animals in this class. His Nos. 640 and 

 641 are highly commended, and are two of the best sheep 

 in the yard ; but all cannot receive the prizes. They 

 are very beautiful, possess extraordinary plaits and deep 

 chests — forms all you can wish, with plenty of good 

 wool. Mr. Smith's are good sheep, but not equal to 

 the above. Mr. G. Fletcher recnves a commendation 

 with No. 645, the highest and longest sheep in the yard ; 

 but notwithstanding this, his general form ^is excellent ; 

 his rump is good, and his wool extraordinary for weight 

 and quality ; his girth is 5 feet 6 in. Mr. \V. Hewer's 

 No. 647 is a tery good sheep, exceedingly large, but 

 compact in form ; his girth 5 feet 9J in. : he very pro- 

 perly received a high commendation. Mr. Wm. Lane's 

 aged sheep are tremendous specimens of the breed ; his 

 No. 652 possesses the greatest girth of any sheep coming 

 this year under our tape, namely 5 ft. 10^ in., nearly 

 equalling the largest girth on record ; the neck is de- 

 fective, and the back and shoulders, astonishing as they 

 are, do not quite equal some others in their even out- 

 line and fat covering. No. 653, though not quite so full in 

 girth as No. 652, is of most excellent quality of flesh ; 

 he has a beautiful bosom and full plaits, and his whole 

 girth is well formed and full, but his shoulder is not 

 fully covered ; his back is very fat and firm ; thighs, 

 twist, and flank light ; countenance and wool all right : 

 he received a high commendation ; girth, 5 ft. 9| in.; an 

 extraordinary animal, and worthy of a prize. Mr. W, 

 Game exhibits two very prime animals ; with No. 655 

 he takes the 2nd prize of £15. This sheep is exceed- 

 ingly large in all its proportions, with an extraordinary 

 back for fatness ; its depth of flesh is very great, but 

 rather too flabby for our taste ; he is more noble-look- 

 ing than his successful competitor, and his proportions 

 are very uniform and good throughout ; he stands high 

 and well, with plenty of superior wool; his girth 5 ft. 

 8 in. His No. 654 is a very good animal, with head 

 equal to the fine Leicesters, deep in chest, and of beMU- 

 tiful form throughout; girth rather slight, 5 ft. 6 in. 

 Mr. Howell's No. 656 received a commendation, and 

 deservedly, for his large well-formed frame ; his mutton 

 rather loose in hand. Mr. T. Walker received a high 

 commendation for a very fine hind quartered sheep, 

 with famous rump and thighs ; girth moderate 5 feet 

 6^ in. 



In Class III. some splendid and very handsome animals 

 were shown. Mr. Game's prize pen of ewes are of un- 

 common size, beauty, and proportions. Mr. W. Lane's 

 come next, and match so well that they appear to be 

 from the same flock ; received 2nd prize. His No. 673 

 took the third position, or the reserve pen ; these were 

 more to our taste, as denoting more staple in wool, 

 though not quite so large in frame — Highly commended. 

 Mr. W. Hewer received a high commendation for a 

 very compact well-formed pen, all broad expansive 

 frames, and full throughout. Mr. T. B. Browne's two 

 pens received commendations, of which they were fully 

 worthy. The other pens were very commendable, but 

 our note-book is silent as to quality. 



Short-ivoolled Sheep not Southdoicns. — Perhaps 

 the remark we made in speaking of the Leices- 

 ter class may not be altogether inapplicable here, 

 but in a diff'erent sense. There we implied that the 

 breed appeared to decline in public favour, owing to its 

 diminutive size. In this class we have a proof of it. The 

 pure Southdown has long, by common breeders, been 

 thought too small for profitable grazing, and the larger 

 varieties of short-wooUed sheep have been gaining in pub- 

 lic favour. The Shropshire-downs have for several years 

 Stood high as a distinct breed s they are very proUfio 



breeders, and they fatten upon very moderate food ; their 

 shape and form being of just proportions, and they yield 

 a good fleece of fine wool. The Hampshire-downs have 

 also established themselves as a distinct breed, and al- 

 though we cannot admire their frame or their looks, we 

 know they are profitable animals for the grazier and 

 breeder. The meeting is this year held in a district 

 where they abound, hence they form a prominent and 

 very interesting fiature in the show-yard. They have 

 also the double advantage of having a special class for 

 themselves, and being permitted to compete for the 

 Society's premium, at the same time, as given to short- 

 woolied sheep. The number in these classes is very 

 large, comprising about 65 shearlings, 46 older sheep, 

 35 pens of live ewes, and 15 pens of five ram lambs — a 

 long task for judges. 



Class I. Shearling Rams. — Mr. Adney, of Harley, 

 Salop, gains the prize for a very level well- formed 

 originiil Shropshire ram, with particularly good 

 chine and rump, Mr. Humfrey's second prize ram 

 is very good ; and also takes the first prize as a 

 Hampshire- down. Another of his shearlings is second 

 in the special class for Hamphire's. Mr. Druce, Mr. 

 George Adney, Mr. Oime Foster, and Mr. Spencer 

 show some very fine rams in this class. One of Mr. 

 Gillctt's is of very great size. The Earl of Portsmouth 

 has one ot great length, wide chest, and many admirable 

 points. We observed several very defective at the 

 shoulder. 



Class \\.,Rams of any other age. — Very good indeed* 

 containing many exceedingly fine animals. Mr. Meire's 

 prize ram, extraordinarily good; Mr. Adney's second 

 prize Shropshire, very large and good ; Mr. Humfrey's 

 prize Hampshire, very level, compact, and fine; Mr. 

 Rawlence's Hampshire has an immense fore-quarter; 

 and Mr. J. W. Brown's is wondefully wide and level. 

 We particularly admire Mr. Mountain's Down and Cots- 

 wold, and Mr. J. Shittler's Hampshire rams, bred by 

 Mr. Futcher. 



Class III. Shearling Ewes. — This very large class 

 has some very beautiful animals, particularly the prize pen 

 of Mr. Canning, the second prize pen of Mr. R. Shittler, 

 and those of Mr. Pain. Among the sheep entered only 

 for the special Hampshire Down prize, we think the 

 prize pen of ram-lambs of Mr. Pain and Mr. Coles are 

 extraordinary beauties, and several other pens are very 

 fine. Some of the shearling ewes are also remarkable 

 for their size, symmetry, and handsome looks. From 

 the superior chai'actcr of these sheep, we are not sur- 

 prised to hear large dealers say they are most profitable 

 in every respect. 



PIGS. 



The following is the number of pigs shown at the last 

 six meetings : 



This is the best show we ever recollect seeing, and it 

 is difficult to say which classes come up the best, whether 

 of the large or small breed. The show is generally 

 commended, but having devoted so much space to the 

 cattle and sheep, we must be brief in our notice of the 

 pigrs. 



