SHROPSHIRE SHEEP. 347 



smaller, but more compact, wonderfully level and neat. We 

 rejoice to see the efforts of sucli men as Mr. Mansell and Mr. 

 Evans crowned witli well-deserved success. Both have steadily 

 worked for a good type, and we think have succeeded in their 

 object ; none make higher figures at their annual sales. Another 

 noticeable and probably the best entry yet seen was at the 

 Shrewsbury meeting of E. A. S. E., in 1884, when great efforts 

 were made by individuals and the Shropshire Breeders Society 

 to place their animals in a leading position. The extent of the 

 exhibition may be gathered from the fact, that, out of a total 

 sheep exhibits of 485 entries, the Shropshires number 246, and 

 never before had such uniform excellence been seen. Lord 

 Chesham took first and fifth and reserved for single shearlings, 

 and was first with a splendid lot of five shearling rams. 



Our notice would be incomplete if we omitted some of the 

 more remarkable of the Staffordshire flocks. In 1872 one of the 

 most celebrated was dispersed at extreme prices even for those 

 sensational times — we refer to Mr. C. Keeling's, of the Ewetree 

 Farm, Penkridge. We visited him in 1864, and found the land 

 rather weak naturally, but kept up in high condition by the 

 enterprise of the occupier. The flock at the time of the sale had 

 been in existence nearly thirty years. Although this flock, like 

 most of those bred in Staffordshire, originated from the Cannock 

 Chase sheep, the quality it attained was due to judicious crosses 

 from Masfen, Horley, and especially Patentee blood. Many of 

 the ewes which we admired for their deep flesh and symmetry 

 were by Gratitude, the highly commended two-shear at 

 Canterbury. His origin is curious. When Mr. Byrd hired 

 old Patentee, Mr. Keeling was allowed to send one ewe to 

 him. He chose a fine specimen by old Norton, from Masfen's 

 sale. Gratitude was a twin. Mr. Keeling's sheep were uniform 

 in character, the features rather dark, not well-woolled on the 

 forehead ; big, thick sheep, showing much constitution. We 

 believe the reason for the sale was that Mr. Keeling was leaving 

 his farm. The late Mr. John Coxon, of Freeford Farm, Lich- 

 field, ranked high as a Staffordshire breeder. His flock 

 originated in 1825, descending from the Whittington Heath 

 sheep — a breed of hardy sheep very similar in type to those of 

 Cannock Chase. The flock comprised at the date of our visit 



