THE ROSCOMMON 589 



exposed uplands, and on its native fertile plains, and 

 is consequently a good tenant-farmer's sheep. It was 

 indebted for its improvement in symmetry, like all other 

 British Long-wools, to the English Leicester. It is also 

 claimed that careful selection of rams by private breeders 

 has probably had more to do with the breed's present 

 improved position than any other influence. It is not an 

 early- maturity breed, being naturally fed and not forced, 

 although the ewes, which are hardy, good milkers, produce 

 early-maturity lambs by Shropshire and other early-maturity 

 rams. Mature sheep of both sexes make heavy weights, 

 as records in the Roscommon Sheep Breeders' Flock Book, 

 established in 1895, show: for example, a three-shear ram 

 dressed to 288 Ibs., or 72 Ibs. per quarter ; a ram lamb to 

 28 Ibs. per quarter ; hogget rams, 50 Ibs. per quarter ; and 

 old ewes to fully the latter weight. The breed is hornless, 

 and the head gaily carried ; the face long and white, with 

 or without a tuft of wool on the forehead ; the muzzle of the 

 ram strong ; the ears fine in texture, white or pinky, and of 

 medium length ; the tail broad, and well set in ; the fleece 

 white, long, and heavy, with a broad staple and bright texture. 

 At the block test competitions at the Dublin winter shows, 

 the mutton has been proved to be " splendidly grained, evenly 

 mixed with fat and lean, and of excellent quality." 



