THE RYELAND 599 



its modern name of the Ryeland breed from certain sandy 

 tracts formerly devoted to the production of rye, situated 

 southward of the River Wye. The breed originated at a time 

 when the country was little cultivated, but was in a state of 

 extensive forests and heaths. It had to exist on poor soil 

 and herbage ; it is not surprising, therefore, that it was of 

 small size." 



The Modern Ryeland l exemplifies what Youatt says of 

 the general good qualities of the breed. Its size and wool- 

 cutting properties have been increased without materially 

 affecting either the hardiness of the sheep or the quality of 

 the mutton. In a good flock, wethers at twelve months weigh 

 1 8 to 20 Ibs. per quarter, and ewes at two and three years 

 old from 20 to 25 Ibs. While the breed does best on good 

 sheep land, it thrives on tracts of cold, damp soil growing 

 inferior herbage, where other breeds would starve. The 

 average yield of wool in a flock where the lambs are kept as 

 tegs is 8 Ibs. per fleece, and the quality is so fine that it 

 usually carries off the premier prize in its class at the Royal 

 Show, or it shares the honours with the wool of the Dorset 

 Horn breed. 



A ram of good type has a masculine head, fairly broad at 

 all points, moderate in length, and covered with wool down 

 to the eyes, a little strip on each side of the face, but not 

 extending across it ; the face, a dull white colour, distinct 

 from the "china" white of the Border Leicester, but dark 

 skin about the nose and eyes ; the ears of moderate length, 

 carried well back, and dark in colour if partially covered 

 with wool, it must be white ; the neck is of moderate length, 

 of good substance, especially good at its junction with the 

 trunk, and set on so as to give the head an appearance of 

 being bridled ; the throat free from jowl or loose skin ; the 

 tail broad ; the leg of mutton broad across and well let down ; 

 the legs straight, and well apart, the wool of good deep staple 

 and thickly set on the skin, the purse, belly, and all parts of 

 the body being well covered, also, frequently, the legs below 

 the knees and hocks. The feet are so well protected by good 



1 For most of the following information indebtedness is acknowledged 

 to John T. Pinches, Secretary, Ryeland Flock Book Society, Limited, 

 Stoneleigh, Ryelands, Hereford, who supplied extracts from the Preface 

 of the prospective first vol. of the Ryeland Flock Book, written by 

 himself, as the result of personal knowledge dating back to 1850 



