306 THE 8HEEP OP GREAT BRITAIN. 



exhibitors being Messrs. Marshall (Branston), Dudding (Panton), 

 Wright (Nocton), and Cartwright (DunstaD). At Oxford and 

 Wolverhampton Lincolns again stood on their own merits as a 

 separate class. There were thirty- two entries at Oxford, the 

 animals being generally so good that the judges commended the 

 whole class. 



It was not until about the year 1850 that the value of the 

 improved Lincolns began to be acknowledged outside the 

 county. The grand appearance of the sheep exhibited at the 

 Eoyal and other shows impressed visitors from the colonies, who 

 saw the benefit likely to be derived from a cross between them 

 and their own short-wooUed breeds. This was more particularly 

 the case about 1864 and 1865, when wool became so valuable in 

 the market. Enormous prices were made at the annual ram 

 sales and lettings, one celebrated sheep belonging to Mr. 

 Kirkham, of Biscathorpe, being let, in five successive years, at 

 an aggregate of nearly 600 guineas. Naturally, however, the 

 flocks of Mr. Marshall, the Messrs. Dudding, and other noted 

 prize-takers, were best known to foreign customers, and the late 

 Mr. T. B. Marshall opened a connection with Australia, New 

 Zealand, the Cape of G-ood Hope, South America, and, indeed, 

 all parts of the world, which was continued after his death by 

 his brother, Mr. W. F. Marshall, the present owner of the 

 Branston flock. The improved Lincolns are now spread over 

 the whole of Lincolnshire and Rutland, and parts of Cambs, 

 Notts, Yorkshire, and Norfolk, and in certain districts of 

 Scotland and Ireland. Indeed, wherever Long-wools are grown, 

 crosses are usually obtained from Lincolnshire. 



As breeders the improved Lincolns are wonderfully prolific, 

 and they arrive at maturity very early. The mode of manage- 

 ment is exceedingly simple. The sheep, as a rule, being hardy 

 and healthy, the lambing season commences the last week in 

 Pebmary, and closes about the end of March. About one-third 

 of the ewes produce pairs, triplets are frequent, and fours not 

 uncommon. A week after birth it is the common practice to 

 turn the lambs with their dams on the young seeds, there being 

 very little grass on the heath. There they remain until they 

 are weaned (about the second or third week in July), when they 

 are placed on clover eddishes, cake and corn being allowed. 



