MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 29 



said in regard to South America, but they are fast gaining a firm 

 hold in both countries, and there is scarcely a county in England 

 where it has not been tried and found to be a grand good sheep, as 

 it must necessarily be if it finds favor among the conservative 

 breeders of breeds that are indigenous to a shire and which are 

 peculiarly adapted to the climate and the local conditions of that 

 shire, as they are in England. 



The Shropshire has pretty nearly monopolized the great west- 

 central district of England. It has been said that it will thrive in 

 any clime where there are sensible shepherds, and that the Shrop- 

 shire has been the salvation of the agriculturists of the county of 

 Shropshire, and no doubt there are just grounds for this assertion. 

 This breed, no doubt in some instances, has been abused through 

 falling into the hands of poor shepherds, but, generally speaking, it 

 has never disappointed the highest expectations. They produce 

 mutton of the best quality and in great quantities, and a very 

 desirable class of wool. 



The English Shropshire flock book has been in existence longer 

 than any other, and the American Shropshire Breeders' Associa- 

 tion, of which Hon. Mortimer Levering is the efficient secretary, is 

 the largest and richest livestock association in existence. BesitTes 

 the American Shropshire Association there are two other associa- 

 tions promoting the cause of the Shropshire in this country, viz. : 

 the International Shropshire Registry Association, Mr. B. Hartley, 

 secretary; and the National Shropshire Association of which Mr. 

 S. J. Weber is secretary. Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, the 

 Argentine Republic, etc., have Shropshire associations. No sheep 

 as yet have been taken to in this- country in crossbreeding as the 

 Shropshire has. The Shropshire-Merino cross is a great one. 



The term Shropshire Down has been dropped in England, per- 

 haps because the county of Shropshire has really no Downs as the 

 term is understood in Hampshire, Wilts, Sussex, etc. 



Michigan figured largely in the introduction of the Shropshire 

 into America, the first finding their way here being, it is said, 

 introduced from Canada. It is stated that the first importation 

 of any note into this country was made in 1855, 'Virginia claiming 

 it. A Michigan fancier is quoted as being the first to introduce 

 them into the American show ring. This was in 1875. Dr.Hubbard 

 of Michigan is said to be the first one to use Shropshire rams as a 

 cross on common ewes, from which he got the most favorable 

 results. Then Richard Conley of the same state, noticing "the 

 pleasing results of this cross, decided that it was the sheep for 

 improving the flocks of the state, and in company with Mr. Hub- 

 bard made an importation of eighty head, direct, in 1880. They 

 brought out an excellent lot of sheep, which at the time were the 

 talk of the country. Some of these fell into the hands of Mrs. 

 W. G. Mason of Michigan, a lady passionately fond of good sheep, 



