DOMESTIC BREEDS OF SHEEP. 49 



The fecundity of the breed is ordinary, a lamb to a ewe being con- 

 sidered a good average. 



The breed is criticized in England for lacking fixity of type and for 

 being prominent in the backbone and shoulders. Hardly enough 

 specimens have come to this country to enable one to criticize them 

 justly. 



The Kent, or Romney Marsh, Sheep Breeders' Association of Eng- 

 land was founded in 1895, and it has done much to advance the 

 interests of the breed. The New Zealand Romney Marsh Sheep 

 Breeders' Association was organized about the same time. The 

 Romney Sheep Breeders' Association of America was organized 

 December 5, 1911, at Chicago. Up to January 1, 1914, they have 

 registered 124 head of sheep. The association has been very active 

 in advancing the breed in every possible way, and a number of other 

 importations have resulted from their endeavors. The offices are at 

 Mechanicsburg, Ohio. 



THE WENSLEYDALE. 



The Wensleydale is the modern form of the old Teeswater breed. 

 In some parts of their native country, notably North Lancashire, 

 they are still known by the latter name. They were also locally 

 known by the name of "Mugs" until 1876, since which time they 

 have borne their present name. It is said that these sheep were 

 used by Bakewell in developing the Leicester, and there is consider- 

 able similarity between the two breeds. However, this likeness may 

 be due to the Leicester blood that was subsequently introduced into 

 the Wensleydale. Mr. R. Outwaite, of Appleton, the "Patriarch 

 of the Wensleydales," used a large Leicester ram, a son of which was 

 the sire of the famous ram "Blue Cap," shown at the Liverpool 

 Royal in 1841. Mr. Outwaite refused 100 guineas for this famous 

 sire. To him and to his sons can be traced most of the leading 

 characteristics of the modern Wensleydale. The Leicester rams 

 imparted early maturity, smaller, more compact carcasses, better 

 quality of mutton, and a finer, denser fleece to the old breed. The 

 present location of the breed is in north and northwest Yorkshire, 

 Cumberland, and Westmoreland Counties. 



In July, 1906, F. H. Neal, of Lucan, Ontario, Canada, imported 

 three yearling ewes and one ram of the Wensleydale breed for the 

 Wyoming Experiment Station. These did not prove popular, being 

 too leggy and having open fleeces, and when crossed upon other 

 breeds did not give flattering results. It is possible that the poor 

 showing made was due to the fact that those imported were not good 

 specimens. 



