684 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



&quot;Mr. Strean s Rover followed, and although he succeeded in bringing his charge safely 

 to the folding pen, his handler was compelled to assist him in getting them to enter. He con 

 sumed over half an hour in performing his task. 



&quot;After dinner, Mr. Ralston s Waddie was called, a very handsome dog, but entirely new 

 at the business he was called upon to perform. He was soon in deep water, and required the 

 direct assistance -of his handler to get his charge in shape again. He improved in his work 

 as he progressed, but at the folding pen he again had to have help to make them enter. 

 Time, eighteen minutes and four seconds. 



&quot; Dr. Downey s Scottish Maid came last, having to drive the same five sheep which had 

 given so much trouble to Mr. Ralston s Jim in the forenoon. Taking into consideration the 

 character of this flock, the Maid did by far the finest work of the trial. She was as 

 quick as a flash, and her actions in handling her unruly charge called forth constant plaudits 

 from the spectators. If the spectators had had the awarding of the prizes, she would have 

 had first unanimously, and she would have won it any way if her sheep had acted as well as 

 they did for the other dogs. As it was, she penned them in grand style in fourteen minutes 

 and twenty-six seconds. 



&quot;The awards in the All- Aged class were as follows: First, Dr. J. W. Downey s Tweed 

 2d; second, Dr. J. W. Downey s Scottish Maid; third, Mr. J. G. Strean s Carlo.&quot; 



The following account of a sheep dog s trial held at Darlington, Durham, England, as 

 given by the Darlington Times, is also interesting in showing the sagacity of this breed of 

 dogs, and the wonderful extent to which their training may be carried. 



&quot; This event was a source of considerable interest to visitors on Thursday, though the 

 result was not satisfactory from a spectacular point of view. Five dogs were entered to 

 compete, only three of them putting in an appearance. The trial consisted in turning four 

 sheep out into the park at the lower end of the ground, the extent of which is probably three- 

 quarters of a mile square, small plantations being studded here and there. A herd of cattle 

 was also grazing in the park, which, as was proved in the course of the trials, somewhat 

 increased the difficulties which the dogs had to overcome. In a circumference of about 

 three-quarters of a mile blue banners were fixed, and the dogs had to drive the sheep around 

 this circuit and pen them at the finish. At each side of the ring the flags were placed so near 

 to the plantations that the space to be traversed by the sheep was narrowed to about the 

 dimensions of a gate; and the rules prohibited the owner of the dog from going so near the 

 animal as to be able to guide it, with his voice, or in any great degree with his actions. It is 

 not the custom of dogs to drive their charges through boundaries of blue banners, and it will 

 easily be imagined the intelligence and careful training requisite to enable them to under 

 stand what was expected of them. 



&quot; Of the three dogs competing, one had taken prizes in other parts of the country in 

 similar exhibitions, though the other two came fresh from their practical duties. Rob, the 

 property of Mr. J. Storey, Wolsingham, a lightly made black and white dog, in capital work 

 ing condition, was put on his trial first. The sheep were turned into the park, and at a sign 

 from his master he dropped out of sight in the long grass, where he remained until another 

 movement of the hand sent him after the sheep. He got his charge safely past the first flag, 

 but they scattered and went pell-mell about the field. The owner was fully one hundred and 

 fifty yards away from the dog during part of the trial, but at this distance such was the im 

 plicit obedience of the animal that a sign would either stop him when at full speed, or start 

 him in any direction to head the sheep. It took some twelve minutes to get the sheep around 

 the flags. It was, however, eventually accomplished, but they were much punished with their 

 incessant exertions. One of them was exhausted at the finish and obstinately squatted. The 

 dog, however, at last got them together again, and drove them to the pen, three of them 

 entering with comparatively little trouble. But one pugnacious specimen, probably incensed 

 at having been so continually on the trot, refused to enter. It defiantly faced about, and, 



