336 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 
The Shropshire is possessed of great fecundity, early 
maturity and quick-fattening qualities (Plate XII). 
386. Uses of Shropshire sheep. — Their good mutton 
form and quality and profitable wool production make the 
Shropshires the great American sheep after the Merinos, 
in their Delaine and Rambouillet forms. They have a 
much longer, more open and coarser fleece than the 
Southdown, are covered more extensively over the head 
and legs, and yield perhaps 50 per cent more wool. Ewes 
average eight pounds or more and rams twelve pounds of 
fleece. The fleece is of good fiber and carries consider- 
able oil. They are hardier than the larger breeds, 
although yielding to the Southdowns in this particular. 
The lambs may be profitably marketed at any time 
from five to twelve months of age, though usually the 
earlier they are marketed the greater the profit. The rams 
are very generally used on Merino and native ewes for 
the production of high-class mutton lambs. 
387. Distribution. — Shropshires are now recorded 
from almost. every state in the Union and from Canada, 
and far exceed in numbers any other English breed in 
America. They are more popular in the North and East, 
not being extensively found on the ranges. They do 
best on good pastures, as their rustling qualities are only 
medium. They are found very generally throughout 
England and her colonies and, in fact, throughout the 
civilized world, especially in Europe, Africa, Australia 
and South America. 
388. Organization and records. — In 1882, the English 
Shropshire Sheep Society was organized. The first volume 
of its flock-book was issued in 1884. The American Shrop- 
shire Sheep Association was organized in 1884, and has 
issued twenty-six volumes of its flock-book, registering 
