78 



Romney Marsh Sheep. 



[may, 



2. Thriftiness. — It is said that Romney Marsh sheep will thrive 

 where others will starve. It is essentially a grass sheep, though 

 a proportion of the lambs are wintered on a fold, and it is a good 

 forager for its keep. A flock of Romneys will not graze all 

 together as Downs will, but scatter themselves over the field. 



3. Fecundity. — The breed is a prolific one. With good 

 management one- or two-lamb ewes should produce half twins, 

 and tegs 10 per cent, twins, or one- third twins from a mixed 

 flock. The ewes are good mothers and produce plenty of milk. 

 The record from one flock shows 320 two-lamb ewes yielding 539 

 lambs, 200 ewes with doubles, 19 with threes and 101 singles. 



PRIZE SHEARLING ROMNEY MARSH EWES ( MACKNADE FLOCK). 



4. Early Maturity. — Romney Marsh lambs come as quickly 

 to the butcher as any other breed ; being born in March to April, 

 they make first class grass-fed fat lambs in July or August, and 

 if weaned or folded, make excellent mutton by Christmas and 

 later. 



They are essentially a kindly breed, and, if well-bred, are first- 

 rate doers. For large mutton the grain is not coarse, and the 

 popularity of the meat is shown by the great demand for it in the 

 Kent and Sussex markets. Compact, well-fed sheep will make 

 nearly as high prices per stone as Downs. 



