RECOGNITION AS A BREED 



113 



fifties of the nineteenth century, although, according to the "Farmers' 

 Magazine/' Adney's flock must have been founded as early as 1820. 

 Other early improvers of note were Messrs. Henry Smith, J. and E. 

 Crane, Green, Horton, Farmer, W.'O. Foster, G. M. Kettel, H. J. 

 Sheldon, Thomas Mansell, John Coxon, Thomas Harley, John 

 Stubhs, E. Thornton, Sampson Byrd, Colonel Dyott, and Mrs. 

 Annie Baker. Others coming- into prominence a little later were 

 Messrs. Henry Mathews, Pryce, W. Bowen, J. H. Bradburne, 

 R. H. Masfen, Joseph Meire, Maddox, John Preece, John Stubbs, 

 C. R. Keeling, William Grindle, J. B. Green, T. C. Whitmore, 

 Edward Thornton, Lord Wenlock, and still others. This large group 

 of breeders worked together for the perfection and advancement of 

 the breed and that they succeeded is a well-known fact. One thing 



FIG. 69. Stud Shropshire rams in field condition. Property of Thomas Buttar, 

 Coupar Angus, Scotland. With the exception of the sheep in the center of the group, these 

 sheep, although not in pretty show-yard bloom, possess the characteristics Shropshire 

 breeders desire in their breeding rams. 



they did which displayed farseeing and intelligent cooperation was 

 to petition the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society to appoint 

 well-known judges to act for a term of years at the Royal Show 

 for the purpose of fixing the true type and character of the Shrop- 

 shire. The Council took heed of this petition and the decisions of 

 the judges it appointed were studiously noted. With the awards in 

 mind, breeders returned to their homes and carefully determined 

 the good and bad points in their own sheep and the direction in 

 which their efforts in breeding should be turned. No other group of 

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