94 Sheep-Farming 



of recommendations. In 1860 we find the Shrop- 

 shire awarded a distinct class with a large number of 

 flocks represented. Referring to this exhibit, one 

 of the judges stated: "Perhaps no description of 

 sheep excited more interest in the show yard than 

 these. It is only within the last eight or ten years 

 that they have come prominently into notice; and 

 it was not until the Canterbury show last year that 

 their claims to be considered a distinct breed were 

 recognized by the Royal Agricultural Society. Yet 

 here we find them in greater numbers than any other 

 breed of sheep shown; ... it is impossible not to 

 be struck with the appearance of these ^heep, as a 

 most useful, rent-paying kind of animal; and if 

 they have not yet attained that uniformity of char- 

 acter, which we are accustomed to see, in some other 

 herds, it must be admitted that they possess all the 

 elements which are required to constitute a near 

 approach to perfection, and all the Shropshire 

 breeders have to do is to concentrate these qualities 

 by a careful and judicious selection. In the class 

 for yearling rams, upwards of fifty were shown, most 

 of them heavy-fleshed animals of considerable merit ; 

 a few indicating the effect of crossing with the South- 

 downs, more or less remotely, and possessing less size 

 and robustness of character, though with more com- 

 pactness of form, and finer but lighter wool. It 

 would, we think, be well for the breeders of these 

 sheep to bear in mind that the qualities which have 



