62 BRITISH SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING. 



valuable in the cross than pure, when moved from its native district, 

 though, strangely, it did better as it went northward than when it 

 was taken to districts southwards. Its relative in comparison with 

 other long-wools produce of wool told against it at a time when 

 wool was very dear and gradually the number of pure flocks 

 decreased. In fact, so far as its native district and the counties 

 around it were concerned, the flocks became very few, though 

 further north, as in Yorkshire, Cumberland, Westmorland and 

 Lancashire, interest in it was better maintained, possibly because 

 the operatives in the big industries of these counties maintained 

 a partiality for fat meat, whilst those in other districts lost it. 

 There seemed almost a probability of the breed flickering out 

 so far as the home trade was concerned, but in 1893 the Leicester 

 Sheep Breeders' Association was formed and, owing to their 

 exertions, new life has been instilled into it. A much stronger 

 type of sheep has been built up, and the fleece has been greatly 

 improved. In fact, at no time in its career has the breed shown 

 such a vigorous type, and it retains its old characteristics for 

 early maturity and the laying on of meat. How well the modern 

 breeders have recast and rejuvenated the breed received full 

 demonstration when Mr. Jordan was awarded, in 1907, the Cham- 

 pionship in the Longwool classes at the Smithfield Show. 



The demand for cross-breeding purposes is considerable, for 

 though primarily a grass sheep, it has throughout more than a 

 century been used pure or in the cross for winter feeding on roots. 

 Its quiet disposition make it suitable for the fold ; but in the 

 great root-feeding districts, sheep of the Down type are generally 

 more favoured, especially as winter folding on roots is an expensive 

 system, and high-class mutton is necessary to meet the expense. 

 Where grass is more relied upon, the Leicester cross is more favoured. 

 There is an offshoot from the breed known as the Border Leicester, 

 which differ considerably in several features from the Improved 

 Leicester. The term " Improved " Leicester, by which name 

 the breed was known in early days, to distinguish it from the 

 unimproved, has long been considered redundant, though at one 

 time it was a name to charm with. In its present type it is likely 

 to gain in popularity for crossing purposes and for regenerating 

 stock abroad. 



The " points " of the present-day Leicester may be summed up 

 as follows : 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 ; no vestige of horns ; 

 blue ears (sometimes white), 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 shoulder and bosom ; breast 

 deep, wide and prominent ; shoulders somewhat upright and wide 



