42 Agriculture of Shropshire. 



cattle, such reputation is equally merited by the flocks. Many 

 first-class breeders of Shropshire Down sheep reside in Corve 

 Dale. As the origin of this breed is at the present time a dis- 

 puted question, I feel bound to refer to it. There are many 

 who claim for the Shropshire Down sheep the position of being 

 a jmre original breed ; others, whilst acknowledging their high 

 value cannot allow them to be a pure breed. For my own part 

 I do not consider them a pure breed, but a cross-bred animal 

 from the original Longmynd or old Shropshire sheep. Plymley, in 

 his ' General View of the Agriculture of Sliropshire,'* published 

 in 1803, says: "There is a breed of sheep on the Longmynd 

 with horns and black faces, that seems an indigenous sort ; they 

 are nimble, hardy, and weigh near 10 lbs. per quarter when 

 fatted. Their fleeces upon an average may weigh 2^ lbs., of 

 which ^ lb. will be the breechens or coarse wool, and is sold 

 distinct from the rest. The farmers of the hill country seem to 

 think the greatest advantage they derive from the access of 

 foreign stock is from the cross of the South Down, with the 

 Longmynd sheep ; the produce they state to be as hardy and to 

 bite as close as the Longmynd sheep, and the weiglit of the 

 carcase is increased." It is therefore evident, that between fifty 

 and sixty years since this cross of the South Down and the 

 Longmynd sheep was a favourite. That this practice continued 

 cannot be doubted, for it is well known that first-class flocks of 

 pure South Doicns were kept in Corve Dale, and annual ram sales 

 were held for very many years until they were gradually super- 

 seded by the improved Shropshire Down. Up to the present time 

 South Down rams from the best breeders still find their way 

 from the east of England to the county of Shropshire. Even 

 those flock-masters who claim to be holders of the original breed 

 cannot give proof of purity of blood for twenty-five or thirty years. 

 It does however appear to me to be very unimportant, for if not 

 an original breed, it is very certain they are an established breed, 

 and that their character and peculiarities can be perpetuated 

 most satisfactorily. In fact the rapidity with which this breed 

 has risen into favour is very strong evidence of the general es- 

 timation in which it is held. Only a few years since any men- 

 tion of the Shropshire Down sheep raised an inquiry even 

 amongst intelligent agriculturists as to their character, and few, 

 comparatively speaking, knew anything of them ; now they stand 

 high as general favourites, and they are rapidly extending 

 throughout this and foreign countries. It is almost superfluous to 

 describe the character of this sheep, as it is so well known ; but 

 I may briefly state, that the Shropshire Down sheep combines the 



* Page 260. 



