456 



Farming of Herefordshire. 



present century, has caused a complete change in the species of sheep 

 which are now bred by Herefordshire flock owners. At the former 

 period, a small breed indigenous to this and the neighbouring old 

 red sandstone districts, was the usual one ; they were small and 

 hardy with a fine fleece, the choicest specimens were known as rye- 

 lands, and it is only in the vicinity of Ross that the true breed 

 are now to be found ; they are very like the Spanish merino, 

 especially the ewe. They are small, white-faced, and hornless ; 

 they lamb in February or March, and are sometimes " cotted," 

 when pease-haulm is generally given to them. The practice of 

 ^' cotting," or housing sheep in places erected for the purpose, is 

 said to have been derived from the Flemings, and introduced into 

 England about the year 1660.* The weight of wool only 

 averaged about 2 lbs. per fleece, but in quality it has always 

 been estimated as equal to merino. A cross between the south- 

 down, ry eland, and German merino, would probably prove a 

 most valuable animal, as supplying fine v/ool with sufficient 

 carcase and rapid feeding properties ; it is in the latter quality 

 that the old ryeland sheep fails in comparison with the new 

 Leicester and improved South Down. The Ryelands were ori- 

 ginally crossed with the early improved Leicesters, from which 

 cross has descended a large part oi" the mongrel animals which are 

 now found in the county. Of late years the Southdowns have 

 been taken into favour, but there is reason for believing that a 

 cross from the Southdown with the true Ryeland, would produce 

 an animal best adapted for the soil and climate of the district, and 

 the Ryeland is the quickest feeder among our original breeds. 



Drainage and a plentiful supply of sound artificial manures, 

 appear to be the great desiderata required in this county in 

 order to make it rank on an equality with any other agricultural 

 district in England. 



XXXI. — Report on the ExJiihition of Live Stock at the Gloucester 

 Meeting of the Society, By Richard Milward. 



The Stewards of Cattle, in making their Report, regret that they 

 are unable to congratulate the Society with regard to the Exhi- 

 bition of Live Stock. The show was unquestionably below the 

 average of former years. 



The stewards have found some difficulty in framing their 

 Report, in consequence of the new system respecting the ex- 

 amination of animals by jury ; but the fact must be stated, 

 whether palatable or not, that the lower character of the show 



* Systema AgricultuiEe, folio. London, 1CG8. 



