204 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



legs, with a finer staple, than others, indicating a closer alliance 

 with the Hampshire Downs. Some of them were larger than 

 others, and a larger size seems to be the tendency of breeders 

 at the present time. They shear on an average from seven to 

 nine pounds, and weigh at sixteen months from twenty to 

 twenty-four pounds to the quarter. 



The Dorsets came next. They are a short-woolled sheep, 

 having a local rather than a general reputation. They are an 

 old and well established breed. 



The class of mountain sheep brought together a great variety, 

 some in wool and some without, some large and some small, 

 some with horns and some without. There were Exmoors from 

 Somerset, Sarks from Yorkshire, Cheviots from Wales, and 

 many others. 



The Blackfaced sheep of Scotland attracted their full share 

 of attention. Tliey are wonderfully hardy and well adapted to 

 the bleak Highlands, where they have to rough it in all weath- 

 ers. I saw them upon the highest hill-tops in the north of 

 Scotland, where scarcely any other sheep would subsist, brows- 

 ing among the heather. They have long, large horns, mottled 

 faces and legs, sharp, wild-looking eyes, long bodies, and long 

 coarse wool, shearing rarely over four or five pounds. They 

 are not usually fed till four or five years old, but then produce 

 sweet juicy mutton. If they had a better fleece they would be 

 one of the best of breeds for rough mountain pastures that 

 could be found. They were all shown in their wool. 



The Cheviots also formed a most interesting feature of the 

 show. They came from the hills on the border, from Cumber- 

 land, Northumberland, Berwick and Dumfries. They are horn- 

 less, have white legs and faces, with long bodies and necks, 

 fleeces of middling length, weighing from four to six pounds. 

 They are not much known in the southern counties, but for the 

 country where they range are a most useful and no doubt a 

 Tery profitable animal. All the classes were very well repre- 

 sented, and this breed went off with flying colors. 



The entries of Merinos were all confined* to the foreign 

 department. Those from Saxony appeared to take the lead in 

 perfection and fineness of wool, but the French Meriivos turned 

 out in by far the largest numbers. As fine wool producers, 

 nothing could compare with these classes, and as an evidence 



