58 Agriculture of Shropshire. 



and letting- of rams have been most successful. This year they 

 ranged up to 60/. each. Messrs. Cranes of Shrewsbury have 

 realized equally high prices. Messrs. Meires have, for many 

 3'ears, held a very high position as Shropshire Down breeders. 

 The flock of Mr. Green, of Marlow, has a verv wide and well- 

 merited reputation. If he fed higher he would realize much 

 higher prices, but he does not approve of a forcing system, and, 

 besides this, he stocks heavy. At his annual sale he disposes 

 of 60 to 70 rams, which average 10 or 12 guineas each, and 

 200 to 300 ewes, which also sell at good prices. This flock is 

 noted for being very prolific — a most desirable feature, for which 

 the Shropsliire Downs as a class stand high. The average 

 number of lambs reared may be said to vary from 30 to 50 per 

 cent, more than the number of ewes. 



Mr. Horton, of Harnage Grange, near Shrewsbury, has bred 

 some first-class sheep, which have taken prizes at Dublin, 

 Gloucester, &c. He was offered 120/. for his two-year-old ram, 

 which gained the prize at Gloucester. His rams have been let 

 at from 10/. to 42/. for the season. The late Mr. Farmer, who 

 resided near Bridgnorth, had a very good flock, which was sold in 

 September, 1857, when one pen of ewes sold for 15/. each, and 

 none under 8/. each. His rams sold in some instances for 50/. 

 each, and 20 rams averaged above 20/. each. This, however, was 

 a sale of the entire flock, and not simply the culls. The culled 

 ewes from the flock of W. O. Foster, Esq., Kniver Hall, 

 average 6/. each at their annual sale. Mr. George Adney, of 

 Harley, near Shrewsbury, has a splendid flock. This gentleman 

 and Air. S. Meire were very successful at the Salisbury show, 

 both carrying off prizes. This admission of the Shropshire 

 Down sheep is by a recent alteration of the rules and regulations 

 of the Royal Agricultural Society, and I trust it is the first step 

 towards this breed being placed in a more prominent position in 

 our national exhibitions, and their having prizes specially al- 

 lotted to them. It is a most valuable breed, especially from the 

 fact of their combining weight and quality, two very essential 

 points for a remunerative stock. The prices stated above show 

 how highly they stand in public estimation. 



Besides the above, there are many excellent flocks belonging 

 to men who simply breed for mutton, and not for the sale of 

 breeding stock. Many of these are of sufficient character to 

 justify their sale for breeding stock, and no doubt as the demand 

 increases for the Shropshire Downs they will be pressed into the 

 service ; at present, however, they do not take this course. Here 

 you generally find a medium degree of fineness held to as most 

 remunerative. Mr. G. M. Kettle, of Dallicott, near Bridgnorth, 

 has a splendid flock of sheep, combining good character with a 



