LONG-WOOLLED LINCOLN SHEEP. 307 



A grander show of sheep than those annually penned at 

 Lincoln April fair it is impossible to conceive. The number of 

 hogs ranges from 40,000 to 50,000, and when wool was high 

 the best pens made from 85s. to 100s. each. These prices were 

 obtained for hogs only fourteen months old. As these sheep are 

 bred for both wool and mutton, it is necessary that they should 

 not only have long and lustrous fleeces, but that they possess 

 those qualities which indicate an abundance of meat — good 

 necks, broad and even backs, with a firm touch — that they 

 should be well sprung in the shoulders, and have good legs. 



With regard to the fleeces, mention may be made of one flock 

 of improved Lincolns, which may be taken as a fair sample of 

 the best flocks in the county. Mr. Marshall, of Branston, has 

 clipped no less than 26|lb. of wool from a shearling 14 months 

 old, and his hogs have todded 160 twos and 40 threes. But 

 even this average was exceeded by Mr. J. J. Clarke, of Welton- 

 le-Wold, whose sheep have, it is said, the heaviest fleeces in the 

 county. 



Perhaps the fairest test of the estimation in which the sheep are 

 held is the average obtained by the leading breeders at their 

 annual sales and lettings. In 1871 Mr. C. Clarke, of Scop wick, 

 sold thirty-three yearlings at an average of 191. 18s. 6d., twenty- 

 four two-shears at an average at 24Z. 2s. (one making 1571. 10s.), 

 and eleven three-shears at an average of 32Z. 13s. 9d. ; Messrs. 

 Dudding, Panton, sold seventy -three at 14Z. 68. 4d. each ; Mr. 

 C. Clarke, Ashby, let a hundred at 13Z. 13s. ; Mr. T. Kirkham, 

 Biscathorpe, let forty shearlings at 13Z. 14s., thirty-seven two- 

 shears at 16Z. 3s. 9d., and twenty-three three- shear sat 15Z. 10s. 6d. ; 

 Mr. E. Paddeson, Ingilby, twenty at 13Z. 12s. ; Mr. Turner, 

 Ulceby, sixty at lOZ. 14s. 6d. ; Mr. J. W. Kirkham, Hagnaby, 

 thirty-six at 13Z. 10s. ; Mr. Havercroft, Wootton, sixty at 

 12Z. 10s. 9d.; Mr. Caswell, Pointon, forty-eight at 17Z. Is.; 

 Mr. Caswell, Laughton, fifty at 17Z. 4s. 6d. ; Mr. J. E. 

 Kirkham, Audleby, forty at 15Z. 2s. ; Mr. T. Cartwright, 

 Dunstan, thirty at 13Z. 14s. ; Mr. Pears, Mere, twenty- 

 one at 12Z. 12s. ; Mr. Davy, Owersby, 120 at 13Z. ; Mr. Wright, 

 Nocton, fifty at about 15Z., &c. These averages, considering 

 the extent of the lots, far exceed those obtained for any other 

 breed, if we except Lord Polworth's lot of thirty Border 



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