1907.] 



Romnev Marsh Sheep, 



77 



and not deep, and the forequarter not heavy nor full. The thigh 

 full and broad, the belly large and tubby, the tail thick, long, and 

 coarse, the legs thick, with large feet ; the muscle coarse and the 

 bone large; the wool long and not fine, and coarsest on the 

 breast ; they have much intern; 1 1 fat and are great favourites with 

 the butcher. The wethers seldom reaeli the market until they are 

 three years old ; they weigh from 140 to 168 lb. and the ewes 

 from 136 to 154 lb." 



The influence of the Leicester was to produce a smaller fetter- 

 set-up, more compact, deeper sheep than the above-described 

 type, and these weighed more than the long-legged and long- 

 bodied animals ; they were also ready for the butcher a year 

 earlier ; they did not consume so much food, and so permitted of 

 increased stocking of the land, whilst the wool was improved in 

 quality without losing its heavy weight. The breed since this 

 period has been maintained pure, and its present high position 

 for utility, both as a meat and wool-producing animal, is due to 

 the skill and enterprise of the breeders, who are reaping their 

 nward in the rapidly advancing popularity of the breed in the 

 esteem of flock masters all over the world. 



The typical Romney Marsh sheep of to-day may be described 

 as follows : — Face and legs white, large thick woolly ears, broad 

 forehead and muzzle, black nose, tuft on forehead, thick scrag, 

 long carcase with well sprung ribs, wide across hips, not " boat- 

 ended," heavy forequarter with plenty of width across shoulder 

 and between forelegs, good wide dock, wool fine and thick on pelt, 

 free from kemp or hair, with a decided staple and even character 

 all over the fleece. 



The main characteristics of the breed are : — 



1. Hardiness. The climate of their native haunts requires a 

 pronounced degree of hardiness. The Romney Marsh sheep 

 subsists on the natural herbage all the year round, except when 

 .1- lambs thev pass their first winter inland. 



Hay feeding is not common during the winter, and it is not a 

 general custom to move the >heep from the pastures even during 

 the severest weather. During early spring on cold days 111 the 

 marsh, sheep other than Romneys will be seen " tucked up " and 

 evidently suffering from the cold, whilst the sheep of the district 

 seem unaffected by the weather. Lambing takes place m the 

 open and little assistance is required ; even in severe weather the 

 proportion of losses is small. 



