EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 585 



Another mode of improvement was that adopted by Mr. George 

 Adney. He stuck to the coarse Shropshires as he found them, mak- 

 ing his improvements by selection, which he did with rare judgment 

 and skill. His most fortunate production was Buckskin, a ram of rare 

 points, who was descended from a Southdown cross; and Buckskin 

 got Old Patentee out of a ewe bred of Mr. Adney, a superior sheep and 

 a prize winner, whose blood still runs in every Shropshire flock of any 

 note, not only in England but in North America. This sheep had a 

 large, plain, and dark head. 



We have stated that one of the stocks of the Shropshire was the 

 ( 'an nock Chase sheep, bred principally in Staffordshire. Flocks have 

 originated also from the Whittington Heath sheep a breed of hardy 

 sheep very similar in type to those of Cannock Chase, and confined to 

 a district of but 400 acres. These were grand sheep and much appre- 

 ciated by the breeder. Pure flocks of the Cannock Chase Shropshire 

 and the Whittington Heath Shropshire exist, but as a general rule the 

 blood of all the strains mingles in the improved Shropshire Down. 



The characteristics of this sheep as set forth in England are quite as 

 well exhibited in Canada and the United States, where triplets are not 

 exceedingly rare. The compiler of the American Shropshire Sheep 

 Record, Mortimer Levering, Lafayette, Ind., records the fact that he 

 had received letters stating the successful raising of four lambs from 

 one ewe in two cases. 



The Shropshire sheep of to-day exhibit much of the quality of the 

 Southdown, with considerably more size. They have a well- developed 

 head; the eye full and large, giving a clear and striking expression of 

 countenance; the forehead well wooled; the ears rather large and 

 thin, standing well out from the head; a muscular neck, well set on 

 good shoulders; the body symmetrical and deep, placed as squarely as 

 possible on short legs, due regard being paid to grandeur of style; a 

 well-covered head of a uniform dark but not black tint; the skin of a 

 nice cherry or pink color, and the legs a nice soft black, free from all 

 white specks ; the belly and legs well wooled to the knees ; and all in- 

 clination for the wool to peel at the jaw and legs should be avoided. 



The following is a scale of points adopted by the American Shrop- 

 shire Association, in 1884, as a standard of excellence in judging 

 Slrropshire sheep : 



Constitution. Constitution and quality indicated by the form of body; deep and 

 large in breast and through the heart; back wide, straight, and well covered with 

 lean meat or muscle; wide and full in the thigh, deep in flank; skin thick but soft, 

 and of a pink color; prominent brilliant eyes and healthful countenance 25 points. 



Objections. Deficiency of brisket, light around the heart, fish back, pointed 

 shoulders, tucked-in flank, pale or too dark skin objectionable. 



Size. In fair condition when fully matured, rams should weigh not less than 225 

 pounds, and ewes not less than 175 pounds 10 points. 



Objections. Rams in full flesh 175 pounds or under; ewes in full flesh 150 pounds 

 or under. 



