_, ' SHROPSHIRE DOWN SHEEP. 63 



Where, however, the original cross was with the South Down, 

 and the breed has been continued unmixed with the long- 

 wooled sheep, they present the characteristics of a short- 

 wooled breed, and as such are already recognized in the 

 Yorkshire and other markets. * * * These sheep 

 are without horns, with faces and legs of a gray or spotted 

 gray color ; the neck is thick with excellent scrag ; the head 

 well shaped, rather small than large, with ears well set on ; 

 breast broad and deep ; back straight, with good carcass ; 

 hind quarters hardly so wide as the South Down, and the legs 

 clean with stronger bone. They are very hardy, thrive 

 well on moderate keep, and are rapidly prepared for market 

 as tegs, [between weaning and shearing,] weighing on the 

 average 80 Ibs. to 100 Ibs. each. The meat is of excellent 

 quality, and commands the best prices. The ewes are prolific 

 and good mothers. The fleece, which is heavier than the 

 South Down, is longer and more glossy in the staple than the 

 other short wools, and weighs on the average 7 Ibs." 



Mr. Spooner says of them that they were first brought into 

 national repute at the Shrewsbury Meeting, in 1845. He 

 remarks: "At the Chester Meeting they beat the Hamp- 

 shire Downs as old sheep, but in their turn were conquered 

 by the latter in the younger classes. They present themselves 

 to our notice in a more compact form ; though shorter they 

 are wider, broader on the heart and deeper through the 

 heart." Mr. Spooner quotes Mr. J. Meire, as having stated 

 at a meeting of the Farmers' Club in Shropshire, [in 1858 or 

 1859,] that the sheep produced by the cross between the 

 original sheep and South Down " was well adapted for the 

 downs, but for the in closures of Shropshire something more 

 docile was required, consequently recourse was had to the 

 Leicester." And Mr. Spooner adds: "This crossing and 

 recrossing at length gave place to the practice of careful 

 selection, and thus uniformity was sought for and attained, 

 and the present superior breed was established. It is now 

 held that no further cross is required." 



Mr. Charles Howard of Biddenham, Bedfordshire, in an 

 address delivered before the London or Central Farmers' 

 Club, in 1860, said: 



" This breed has been established by a prudent selection 

 of the breeding animals,' and I learn from a gentleman who 

 kindly favored me with information upon the point, that the 

 late Mr. Meire was the first to improve upon the original 

 type. This he did in the first place by the use of the Leicester ; 



