342 THE SHEEP OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



carcass wliich might be fattened at three years old to eight or 

 nine stone. Their descendants, whilst retaining the same hardy 

 character, are much larger, mature earlier, yield a heavy fleece, 

 and a frame weighing ten stone at thirteen months without 

 extraordinary treatment. We have quoted these authorities in 

 order to show that it is to the Southdown chiefly, though not 

 entirely, that the present form and character of the Shropshire 

 are due ; indeed, about the only objection that could be urged 

 against the breed when the first edition of this work was pub- 

 lished in 1877 was that, although for the past twenty years it 

 had received much attention, there was still a lack of 

 uniformity; but this defect has now almost entirely disap- 

 peared, as breeders are at last tolerably agreed as to the 

 particular type that is most desirable. The variety could only 

 be accounted for by the supposition that different crosses in 

 different proportions had been tried ; and we think there is no 

 doubt this had been the case. 



A great impetus was given to breeders when the Eoyal 

 Agricultural Society recognised the importance of the breed by 

 giving it a separate class, which was first done at the Canterbury 

 show in 1860. The wisdom of the step has been abundantly 

 illustrated by the numbers and quality of the entries at all 

 subsequent shows — which have for many years past far out- 

 numbered any other breed. One reason for the difference of 

 character which so long prevailed may be found in the fact 

 that, while many breeders achieved from time to time prominent 

 positions, there was no one in early days who took such a 

 decided lead as to impress his type permanently, as was the case 

 with the Leicesters and Southdowns. 



Of the earlier breeders, we must single out for special notice 

 Mr. Samuel Meire and Mr. George Adney as men who, pur- 

 suing a different practice, laid the foundation of the present 

 breed. Mr. Meire carried on his operations at Berrington, 

 until he gave up that farm and retired to a small estate of his 

 own at Harley, the same parish in which Mr. Adney had farmed. 

 Mr. Meire was a good judge of stock, and set to work upon the 

 coarse Shropshire, going chiefly for three points — straight 

 spine, with well sprung ribs, oblique shoulders, and good rumps. 

 These points could not be obtained by cultivation or selection 



