382 On the Exldhition of Live Stock at Chester. 



tenlng of ewe stock for exhibition is a losing game, and he has 

 exhibited rams only : I need scarcely record his success, it 

 having been almost invariable. Experience has also shown him 

 the folly of over-fattening aged rams for exhibition, and he has 

 latterly as a rule shown only shearling rams, and these to per- 

 fection. At the great "International Exhibition" of France 

 in 1856 Mr. Webb exhibited his shearling rams and obtained 

 the prizes. The next year he exhibited both shearling and aged 

 rams, and gained both the first prizes. Space will not admit of 

 further details. 



The Goodwood jiock of Soutlidoxons.' — A flock of Southdown 

 sheep has been kept at Goodwood in the county of Sussex for 

 upwards of 100 years. In the year 1825 the present Duke of 

 Richmond turned his attention more particularly to the Improve- 

 ment of the flock, and with this view purchased some of the best 

 .animals obtainable. Since the year 1830 sheep selected from 

 this flock have gained 8 gold and 31 silver medals, at the 

 Smithfield Club Shows; since the year 1840, 17 prizes, at 

 the Meetings of the Royal Agricultural Society ; and since 

 the year 1847, 17 prizes at the Sussex County Shows. The 

 animals that gained these prizes were not only bred at Good- 

 wood, but were also nearly all descended from animals bred 

 there. The flock numbers upwards of 2000, exclusive of 1000 

 lambs which are annually bred.- A large proportion that are 

 drafted yearly are sold for breeding purposes, and much in- 

 quired for by foreigners as well as English breeders. A con- 

 siderable number have been purchased to go to France, Prussia, 

 Russia, &c. 



Mr. Rifjden, of Hove, Messrs. Sainsbury, Overman, and others 

 are also noted as Southdown breeders. 



The Southdowns are chiefly bred in the counties of Sussex, 

 Surrey, Hants, Wilts, and Dorset ; there are also several 

 eminent breeders in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk ; in 

 fact but {ew English counties are without them. Many flocks 

 are also kept In Ireland and Scotland. 



Class I. — Shearling Rams : 23 entries. — The prizes in this 

 class were awarded to the flocks of Mr. Rigden and the Duke 

 of Richmond ; they both exliUiIted some fine specimens, Mr. 

 Rigden being the champion. Lord Walsingham also exhibited 

 some good shearlings. 



Class II. — Aged Rams: 16 entries. — Here again Mr. Rigden 

 received the first prize for his three-shear ram, a superior ani- 

 mal ; the Duke of Richmond the second, for his 2 years-old 

 ram ; Lord Walsingham's 2 years-old. No. 491, was named as 



