320 THE SHEEP OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



both lots of sheep weighed, and I again weighed them 

 November 28th, when I found that the thirty Downs had 

 increased in weight 2431b. ; whereas the Devons had increased 

 4461b. 



Another fact may be added which either proves a remarkable 

 propensity in Mr. Robert Farthing's Devon Longwools to lay on 

 flesh rapidly, or the marvellous changes these Somerset marshes 

 are calculated to infuse into this variety of sheep in brief time. 

 His old ewes, to the number of about fifty, after weaning their 

 lambs last year, were turned on the marshes, and in the week 

 subsequent to the Welsh Show, held on the 11th of May, they 

 were ripe for slaughter, with carcass weights averaging over 

 241b. per quarter. 



When the Eoyal Agricultural Society visited Plymouth in 

 1865 there were no separate classes for Devon Longwools, nor 

 were the claims of the breed recognised at the earlier shows of 

 the Bath and West of England Society. Separate classes for 

 the breed were, however, part of the programme of the Taunton 

 Meeting in 1870, with the result of Mr. Eichard Corner, of 

 Torweston, carrying off first and second prizes for yearling 

 rams ; but in the older ram class he only won second prize, 

 Mrs. Elizabeth Gribbings, of Higher Brenton, near Exeter, 

 receiving the first. At Dorchester, in 1872, and Plymouth the 

 following year, Mr. R. Corner made a clean swoop of the whole 

 of the prizes for this breed of sheep ; but in 1874, at Bristol, 

 there was a more even distribution of the prizes, for Sir J. H. 

 Heathcoat-Amory won a first and second, and Mr. Gr. Radmore 

 a first prize, leaving Mr. Corner one first and two second prizes. 

 The success of the Knightshayes flock was quite in the ascendant 

 at Croydon the following year, wliere they won the whole of 

 the three first prizes, Mr. Corner only being able to get the 

 seconds. At Hereford the following year, Sir J. H. Heathcoat- 

 Amory was also chief winner by receiving two firsts and two 

 seconds, Mr. Corner only carrying off one second prize, and Mr. 

 C. Norris, of Motion, Exeter, gained first prize for ewes. At 

 the Bath Centenary Meeting in 1877, however, Mr. Corner 

 fully regained his supremacy, for he won two first and two 

 second prizes, his chief opponent, the Knightshayes flock, getting 

 one first and one second prize. 



