82 BEGINNINGS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



breed commands universal respect, and flocks of South- 

 downs are found all over the civilized world. 



The Shropshire sheep originated from a number of dif- 

 ferent types native in and about the county of that name in 

 western England. This is a rather hilly region, with many 

 fine pastures, and is well suited to these animals. A num- 

 ber of different men were interested in the improvement of 



Fig. 45. A group of Shropshire sheep on farm of H. M. Brown, of Ohio. 

 Photograph from W. E. Duckwall. 



the Shropshire, prominent among whom were Messrs. Meire 

 and Adney. Some of the early sheep were very coarse and 

 had horns, and Mr. Meire worked to improve the quality, 

 to get rid of the horns, and to develop a better mutton sheep. 

 In this he succeeded. Shropshires became somewhat 

 prominent in England about 1853, when they were first 

 exhibited at the Royal Agricultural Society Show. About 



