584 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



the importance of the breed by giving it a separate class, which was iirst 

 done at the Canterbury show in 1860, at which time 192 Shropshires 

 were exhibited with marked success. Coleman says the wisdom of this 

 step has been abundantly illustrated by the numbers and quality of the 

 entries at all subsequent shows, which have for many years past far 

 outnumbered any other breed. One reason for the difference of character 

 which so long prevailed may be found in the fact that, while many 

 breeders achieved from time to time prominent positions, there was no 

 one in early days who took such a decided lead as to impress his type 

 permanently, as was the case with the Leicesters and Southdowns. 



Mr. Alfred Mansell, of College Hill, Shrewsbury, in Shropshire, 

 most excellent authority, says that since 1859, despite the great preju- 

 dice and opposition of exhibitors of other breeds, the Shropshires have 

 steadily increased in number at the Eoyal shows, culminating in the 

 grand display of 1884 at Shrewsbury, "when 875 Shropshires were 

 exhibited against 420 Southdowns, Hampshires, Lincolns, Leicesters, 

 Cotswold, Mountain, and all other distinct breeds, being considerably 

 more than double the number of all other breeds, and demonstrating 

 very conclusively that the Shropshire is a sheep that meets the re- 

 quirements of the day, and surely is the coming race." 



Another fact worthy of notice is that this breed seems to thrive and 

 become acclimatized in all places if properly cared for, as is proved by 

 the success of exhibitors extending over a wide area, noticeably at the 

 Eoyal show of Shrewsbury in 1884, the exhibitors of this breed num- 

 bering no less than sixty, and hailing from fifteen counties, including 

 Ireland, whereas the best that can be said of any other distinct breed 

 is that the Southdowns came from eleven breeders in six counties; and 

 by experience of others who have seen the breed flourishing in every 

 country — in England, Scotland, Ireland, the United States, South 

 America, Cauadii, the colonies, France, Germany, Greece, and most 

 other continental countries whose soil and surroundings differ to a 

 great extent. This power of acclimatizing itself, no doubt, has not 

 escaped the notice of foreigners, who of late years have exported the 

 breed largely. 



The precise process of forming a flock of Shropshires, one that car- 

 ried off many prizes, may be learned from the experience of Samuel 

 Meire, of Birringtou. Mr. Meire was an excellent judge of stock, and 

 set to work upon the coarse Shropshire, going chiefly for three points 

 —straight spine with well-sprung ribs, oblique shoulders, and good 

 rumps. These points could not be obtained by cultivation or selec- 

 tion alone, and Mr. Meire introduced the Southdowns, buying or hiring 

 rams from the celebrated flock of John Ellman, of Glyude. Aptitude 

 to feed, with the short back and chine, were derived from a. cross of 

 Leicester blood introduced with great judgment. Having thus obtained 

 the desired form of the animal, he endeavored to fix the same by close 

 breeding. In this he succeeded and thus founded a flock from which 

 has come improvement to many others. 



