38G Oil the Exhihition of Live Stock at Chester. 



Other Short-woolled Breeds, not being Southdowns. 



The wording of this class conveys the impression that there 

 are many "other short-woolled breeds," which is correct to a 

 certain extent. They number amongst them the Hampshire, 

 Wiltshire, and Shropshire Downs, and even Cheviots. But the 

 Hampshire and Shropshire breeds are the only breeds which 

 really come into competition. 



The Haippshire sheep are clearly descended from an original 

 hardy race peculiar to the county, possessing in early days the 

 same bony characteristics as the long-woolled Lincolns. They 

 have partaken of the improvements of other breeds ; but their 

 strength of constitution and size have been retained as cha- 

 racteristic of the animal, less attempt having been made to imitate 

 the beauty and high proof of the Southdown. These sheep, 

 as seen in numbers upon their native soil, are bold rent-paying 

 animals. As show sheep they have not reached the requisite 

 uniformity of cast and quality. 



The Shropshire sheep also date their origin from an old 

 county breed — the Morfe Common sheep, which ancient history 

 describes as having " thick coats, and peckled faces." The 

 Society's meeting at Shrewsbury in 1845 first introduced this 

 breed to public notice, and sales of rams were then made at 

 from 5/. to 11. each, and of ewes at about 21. each. Then 

 followed the special classes opened for them at the Gloucester 

 Meeting in 1853. They had now obtained a great name for 

 robustness of form and wool, as a dark-faced, short-woolled 

 sheep. A great stimulus was thus given to the trade in these 

 sheep, and large prices were realised. On some occasions rams 

 reached an average of 20/. each, and ewes made 5/. to 10/. 

 each. In one instance 78/. lbs. was realised for a pen of five 

 ewes. Their average weight of wool over a whole flock is from 

 6 to 7 lbs. per fleece. One of the oldest flocks, from which 

 many of the best sheep are descended, was that of the late Mr. 

 Mines, of Berrington, near Shrewsbury, established upwards of 

 ninety years ago. These were originally a large " peckled- 

 faced " breed, and then made 25 lbs. per quarter at two years 

 old without artificial food. The fancy of breeders has since 

 turned more to self-coloured faces, the " peckled-faced " ones 

 are rejected as breeding sheep, and by degrees, with proper 

 selection, they have become uniformly of a grey colour ; some 

 families, however, being much darker. Attempts to improve 

 the breed by crossing have proved a failure. With the South- 

 down cross the result has been a loss of size and wool, and 

 with the long-woolled sheep there has been a loss of character 

 in coat and quality. Shropshire Downs appear well adapted 



