EOMNEY MARSH SHEEP. 323 



carcase ; they are flat-sided, have a sharp chine, are tolerably 

 wide on the loin, have the breast narrow and not deep, and the 

 f oreqnarter not heavy nor full ; the thigh full and broad, the 

 belly large and tabby, the tail thick, long and coarse, the legs 

 thick with large feet, the muscle coarse and the bone large ; 

 the wool long and not fine, and coarsest on the thighs ; they 

 have much internal fat, and are great favourites with the 

 butcher. They have much hardihood, they bear their cold and 

 exposed situation well, and they require no artificial food during 

 the hardest winter except a little hay. The wethers seldom 

 reach the market until they are three years old ; then they 

 weigh from lOst. tol5st. (81b.), and the ewes from9st. to list." 



Formerly the wethers were brought to market at from two to 

 two and a half years old ; in more ancient days many were 

 wintered three times, and sold early after shearing. Now, how- 

 ever, owing to more generous treatment, and also in many cases 

 to the influence of a strain of other blood, the shearlings are 

 brought to market during their second summer ; and, where 

 arable land prevails, many are fatted on turnips and sold when 

 shorn. We find them shortly described by Professor Wilson 

 in an article on various breeds of sheep, especially with reference 

 to wool-bearing qualities, published in 1865 in the sixteenth 

 volume of the "Eoyal Agricultural Society's Journal." He 

 speaks of them as having white legs and head, the latter long 

 and broad, with a tuft of wool on the forehead ; long thin neck, 

 narrow fore quarters, the body long, with flattish sides and 

 sharp chine, loins wide and strong, belly coarse, thighs broad 

 and thick, with coarse bone and muscle. The wool is an 

 important feature, specially valuable for the length of staple, 

 fineness of quality, and bright glossy character, which makes it 

 in demand for Flanders and France, being principally used in 

 the manufacture of a fabric known as *' cloth of gold." The 

 usual weight of the fleece is from 71b. to 101b. 



The E/omney Marsh sheep have undoubtedly considerably 

 improved since the days of Youatt, partly owing to more 

 scientific management, and partly to the influence of foreign 

 blood. The Kentish farmers would naturally try experiments 

 with the fast-feeding Leicesters, seeing that in the days when 

 Bakewell first made those famous it required from two to three 



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