20 SHEEP I BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



stock. In 1789 he made 1,200 gs. by the letting of three 

 rams and 2,000 gs. for seven; and in the same year he made 

 3,000 gs. in addition, by letting the remainder of the rams to 

 the Dishley Society, then instituted. These facts must 

 appear extraordinary to anyone who reflects upon the greater 

 value of money one hundred years ago than now, and the 

 much less general appreciation at that time of the advantages 

 of well-bred stock. Then there were no foreign buyers to 

 stimulate biddings, nor princes and millionaires competing for 

 favourite strains. 



THE IMPROVED LEICESTER. 



The Leicester sheep as bequeathed to us by Bakewell may 

 be described as a white-faced, hornless race, covered with a 

 fleece measuring about seven or eight inches in length, of 

 somewhat lashy wool, but terminated with a short twisted 

 curl. Describing its points briefly we find the following : 

 Lips and nostrils black, nose slightly narrow and Roman, 

 but the general form of the face wedge-shaped, and covered 

 with short white hairs ; forehead covered with wool, although 

 this is not always the case ; no vestige of horns; ears 

 thin, long and mobile ; a black speck on face and ears 

 not uncommon ; a good eye ; neck short, and level with 

 back, thick and tapering from skull to shoulders and bosom ; 

 breast deep, wide and prominent; shoulders somewhat up- 

 right and wide over the tops ; great thickness from blade to 

 blade or " through the heart " ; well filled up behind the 

 shoulders, giving a great girth ; well sprung ribs, wide loins, 

 level hips, straight and long quarters, tail well set on, good 

 legs of mutton, round barrel, great depth of carcase, fine 

 bone, a fine curly fleece free from black hairs, well-covered 

 back and loins, firm flesh, springy pelt, pink skin. The 

 general form of the carcase square or rectangular ; legs well 

 set on, straight hocks, good pasterns, neat feet. 



The Leicester is best fattened when from twelve to fifteen 



