Chapter LII. 



SHROPSHIRES. 



This breed long and favorably known in England is, in America, 

 comparatively new. The first importation of an*y note was made in 1855, 

 Virginia claiming the honor, but it is only within the last eight or ten 

 years that Shropshire sheep have attracted any marked attention from 

 breeders on this side of the Atlantic. 



The origin of the breed may be traced almost directly to the polled 

 sheep of Cannock Heath, and the old black, or spotted-faced breed of 

 Morfe Common. In Volume XVI., Journal of the Royal Agricultural 

 Society, there is given this fragment of a report from the Bristol Wool 

 Society (1792) regarding the breed last referred to: 



"On Morfe Common, near Bridgnorth, there are about 10,000 sheep kept during the 

 summer months, which produce wool of a superior quality. They are considered a native 

 breed, are black-faced or brown, or spotted-faced horned sheep, little subject to either rot 

 or scab." 



The sheep of Cannock Heath were hornless, with grayish faces and 

 legs, and are described by Youatt as attaining great weight. From 

 these two hardy native breeds the Shropshire has been gradually im- 

 proved whether within itself or by further out-crossing with other 

 breeds is difficult to determine until it stands at least the acknowl- 

 edged rival of any of our modern middle-wool breeds. 



From Volume I. of the American Shropshire Record we quote: 



"In England, the turning point with Shropshire sheep was in the Royal Show Yard 

 at Gloucester, in 1853, when their superiority was recognized.* * * * In the year 

 1859, the breed was awarded a place on the prize sheet of the Royal Agricultural Society, 

 as a recognized and distinct breed, at which time 192 Shropshires were exhibited with 

 marked success." 



In America they have not hidden their light under a bushel by any 

 means. In 1884, at the Chicago Fat Stock Show, 



"A Shropshire took first prize in the class between two and three years old competing 

 with Hampshires and Oxfords ; sweepstakes for best sheep any breed between two and 

 three years ; grand sweepstakes, as best sheep any age and any breed ; heaviest fat sheep 

 and best dressed carcass." From an address by J. L. Stone, before the Pennsylvania 

 Board of Agriculture, June 17, 1886. 



DESCRIPTION. 



The face is dark grayish or brown, wool coming well down to the eyes, 

 and with no trace of horns. The legs are darker than face almost 

 black; head longer than in the Southdown and ears larger, while the 



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