182 SHROPSHIRE SHEEP. 



less sheep, but one still lacking in size. Leicester and Cots- 

 wold rams were then used in order to give the desired size. 

 For some years a somewhat imimiform type was the result, 

 owing to a lack of uniformity of type on the part of the 

 breeders; but careful crossing followed by careful selection 

 to type accomplished the valuable breed of Shropshires that 

 we have at the present time. 



At the Royal Show Yard at Gloucester in 1853 came the 

 turning point in the history of Shropshires. From that time 

 on their superiority as a breed has been recognized, and 

 now at the great English shows they outnumber all other 

 breeds. They have spread over the counties of Shropshire, 

 Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and Northern 

 Gloucestershire. Large flocks are owned in Scotland and Ire- 

 land. On this side the Atlantic, in Canada and the United 

 States, the Shropshires hold the premier place. Its valuable 

 qualities are thus outlined by Mr. Preece of Shrewbury: "It's 

 a farmer's sheep, a rent-paying sheep, a tenant's sheep. It's 

 a money-making, wool-producing, mutton-carrying sheep. It's 

 a bank, a save-all, a frugal living and quick fattening, hardy 

 sheep." 



The Shropshire is a medium sized sheep, larger than the 

 Southdown, and a little smaller than the Oxford. 



It is better adapted to grazing arable lands where food is 

 plentiful than on the rougher hillsides, where the South- 

 downs do well. The Shropshire gives excellent results when 

 crossed on Merino ewes or on the ewes of the long-wooled 

 breeds. The mutton is of excellent quality; equal to that 

 of the Southdown, with a large percentage of lean meat. The 

 carcass dresses out well, too. The lambs are early maturers. 

 The fleece of the Shropshire is of medium length, fine and 

 dense and of good quality. Ewes on an average shear 8 to 9 

 pounds, while rams shear 12 to 15 pounds unwashed wool. 



