THE ROSCOMMON SHEEP. 361 



fattened without seeing a turnip. In all cases where turnip- 

 feeding is pursued, the Eoscommon sheep prove that earlj 

 maturity, along with heavy weights, has become one of their 

 characteristics ; so that if turnip growing were extended in the 

 west of Ireland, it is only reasonable to believe that Connaught 

 would produce much larger supplies of sheep than is done at 

 present. With the pressure on the meat market which now 

 exists, this is therefore a point which deserves to be seriously 

 considered. 



The wool of the Eoscommon breed is a soft, deep- grown, rich 

 wool, and the quality of the fleece is invariably looked upon as a 

 material point in the selection of rams and ewes by the leading 

 breeders. The fleece of grass-fed wedders and hoggetts usually 

 weighs about 101b., but about 81b. may be taken as the average ; 

 at the same time much heavier weights have been obtained. 

 Thus, the fleece of Capt. J. Blood Smyth's prize ram Prince 

 Arthur, whose portrait is given in the accompanying engraving, 

 weighed 241b. ; and Capt. Smyth's shearling rams generally 

 average about 141b. of wool. Some of his ewes, shorn while 

 rearing lambs, have clipped 141b. and even 161b. of wool. 



Notwithstanding the well-known and very evident improve- 

 ment which has been effected in the Eoscommon sheep, and the 

 highly favourable opinion entertained of their merits by the 

 extensive graziers of the midland and southern counties of 

 Ireland, until very recently Eoscommon sheep were classed at 

 the shows of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of Ireland, and 

 also at those of the Eoyal Dublin Society, in a mixed class of 

 " Long-woolled sheep, other than Leicesters." A class so 

 arranged frequently contained Cotswolds and Lincolns, as well 

 as Eoscommon sheep, and the decisions generally rested more 

 on the particular inclinations of the judges, than on the relative 

 merits of the animals. Of late, however, both societies have 

 recognised the Eoscommon sheep as a distinct breed, and offer 

 special prizes in the different sections, as in the case of the 

 Leicesters and other established breeds. This recognition of 

 the breed by the Irish Eoyal Societies has already been pro- 

 ductive of great good effect, as it has induced several breeders 

 of Eoscommon sheep to bestow greater attention on the 

 improvement of their flocks. 



