LECTURE NO. 16. 



LINCOLN SHEEP ORIGIN AND HISTORY, CHARAC- 

 TERISTICS AND STANDARD POINTS. 



ORIGIN AND HISTORY. 



I. This breed has long inhabited the lowlands 

 of Lincolnshire and to some extent other counties on 

 the east coast of England. 



(1) Their value was not recognized to any great extent 

 beyond their native county and those adjoining it prior to 1850. 



(2) Now they are found over the whole of Lincoln and 

 Rutland, and over parts of several of the neighboring counties. 



II. A century ago they were large, ungainly 

 animals with an immense fleece of ragged, oily wool. 



(1) They had thick, large necks with flabby dewlap, were 

 forward in the shoulder, had flat ribs and deep bellies, and 

 were inclined to lay on fat at the rumps and internally. 



(2) They were covered with wool even longer than at 

 present 



III. How improvement was effected. 



(1) The old Lincolns were chiefly improved through the 

 free use of Leicester blood and improved modes of breeding 

 and feeding. 



(2) The Leicester cross greatly improved the syrnmetry 

 and the feeding qualities of the Lincolns. 



IV. Recognition at the shows. 



(1) The Lincolns were first recognized as a pure breed 

 by the Royal Agricultural Society in 1862. 



(2) Before that time they could only be shown in the 

 general long wooled classes. 



V. Distribution in other countries. 



(i) Lincolns have found their way into Australia, New 

 Zealand, South Africa, South America, Canada and the United 

 States, but 



263 



