WOOL growers' association. 393 



this association. In relation to the Shropshire, ray experience is quite limited. I 

 have only been keeping Sliropshires two yeare. I imported twelve head of ewes in 

 1882 — fine specimens of the Shropshire breed brought from England. If I under- 

 stand what produced the original type of the Shropshire, it was a cross of the 

 Cotswold on what is called the 'Morfe Common," which derived its name from a 

 tract of country comprising about 600,000 acres called the Morfe Common.* This 

 breed was a small horned sheep inhabiting that country. Mr. Stewart has given 

 us some account of the Shropshire, as old a breed as the Southdown, but never con- 

 sidered distinct enough in England to receive a premium until 1842. We have a 

 history of the Southdown as far back as in the seventeenth century. . Like all 

 other breeds, they have been selecting the best rams to couple with the ewes to 

 produce an ideal type combining mutton and wool. The Oxford sheep are pro- 

 duced by a cross between the Cotswold and Hampshiredowns, but the character- 

 istic of the Cotswold is nearer than the other sheep. The head and general form 

 of the Oxford sheep resembles the Cotswold. The Cotswold possesses the power of 

 transmitting the good qualities to the offspring. The Oxford sheep is the cross 

 on the Cotswold and Hampshire down, and it is a grand sheep, larger than the 

 Southdown or Shropshire; in fact, it is the largest of the downs. In relation to its 

 adaptation to the wants of the people, I have no doubt but it is one of the b(st, 

 yet they do not produce as heavy fleece or carcass as the Cotswold. 



Mr. Nelson. Is this Morfe Common sheep identical with the black-faced sheep? 

 Mr. Dungan. It is a black-legged sheep. It was produced in England, instead 

 of Scotland. 



Mr. Nelson. My knowledge is limited in that matter. If that sheep is identical 

 with the Scotch sheep, there is not much change. I have my doubts as to the true 

 origin of the Shropshire sheep, as there would be no down in their mate at all. It 

 was quite customary, in raising their early lambs, to select Scotch sheep, Bakewell 

 or Leicester, and all become white-faced. This Morfe Common sheep is new to me. 

 Mr. Iloviand. I would like to hear a general discussion on the origin 

 of the Shropshire sheep. It is something that I am interested in, and I came 

 here to learn about it. I am disappointed, in view of the fact that we have not 

 come to any definite conclusion regarding the origin of this sheep. I suggest, if 

 the committee has not completed the programme, that they continue Mr. Thomp- 

 eon as an essayist for next meeting, and ask him to prepare a paper on this subject. 

 Mr. Leverincj. I notice quite a number of breeders are favorable to the black- 

 faced sheep. I confess that I like the black face the best It is tiie most distinc- 

 tive feature between the Southdowss and the Shropshiredowns. Sometimes it is 

 difficult to define the features on the Southdowns, Shropshiredowns and Oxford- 

 downs. The best feature of the Shropshire is they have thin ears and well set back 

 on the neck, and have a bunch of hair between the ears. I should like, as has 

 been suggested, that Mr. Thompson, in his address next year, give us the distinctive 

 cross of the Shropshire and Hampshiredown sheep. We do not call the Oxford a 

 down sheep. Mr. Pruitt thinks it is a cross of the native black sheep, so there 

 seems to be a ditTerence of opinion in this respect 



*Thi8 statement refers to England as it was a century ago. 



