CHAPTER LXI 



THE KENT OR ROMNEY MARSH 



The native home of the Kent sheep is in southeastern England 

 in the county of Kent, in the district known as Romney Marsh. 

 This is a low, level, marshy, alluvial plain about on sea level, the 

 sea being held back by strong walls. The climate is moist and 



Fig. 211. A Kent or Romney Marsh ram, first prize in class at the Royal 

 Agricultural Society of England Show, 1904. Owned and exhibited by 

 Charles File. Photograph from William Cooper & Nephews, Berkham- 

 sted, England 



mild and the region sparsely settled. Here a comparatively 

 large number of sheep are maintained on the land. 



The early type of Kent sheep was rather comparable with 

 other breeds in being deficient in rib, heavy of bone, long of 

 leg, and coarse of wool. In 1855, referring to these as Romney 

 Marsh sheep, Professor Wilson thus describes the breed : 



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