432 
Farm Reports. 
Wednesday in September, with the exception of those required 
for the farm itself. Until then they are kept on the fat of the 
land, namely, red clover, May-sown rape, cabbages, mangolds, 
corn, and cake. 
Eighty years ago the foundation of this famous flock was laid 
by Philip Skip worth, the elder, by the purchase of Dishley ewes. 
At the death of this worthy the flock and farm of Aylesby passed 
to his son, whose name and reputation were identical with those 
of his father. The tups used by these breeders of the olden time 
were hired from the Bakewell Ram Club, whose rules, regulations, 
and proceedings have already been described by Mr. Dixon in 
this Journal.* That Society offered 300 guineas for the use of 
" Aylesby A," to the elder Philip ; and as much as GOO guineas 
has been paid for the use of a Leicestershire ram at Aylesby. 
Tups were also largely used in succession from the flocks of 
Stubbins, Honeyman, and Buckley, as well as from those of the 
three Stones and the two Burgesses. 
In 1848 Mr. Torr succeeded the younger Philip in the occupa- 
tion of Aylesby, and bought the pure Leicestershire flock of 400 
ewes for 1500Z. Since then the tups used have been almost 
entirely hired from Burgess and Sanday ; one or two others, how- 
ever, have been obtained from Buckley and Stone. All the new 
blood has, therefore, been obtained from the purest flocks of 
Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. 
The present flock does not possess quite so much elegance of 
form as characterized it during the reign of the two Philips ; but 
a great improvement has been made in the weight of the wool, 
size of the sheep, and hardihood of their constitution. This 
result has been attained solely and entirely by successful selection, 
strictly influenced by absolute attention to these points only, at 
the sacrifice of those which were formerly deemed necessarily 
characteristic of the pure Leicester breed. The careful breeding 
of twenty years has been occupied in achieving this result ; but 
it may be carried onwards, or turned into any given direction, 
provided that sufficient time and care be devoted to the pursuit. 
The letting-books of the last 20 years show how much, and 
how widely, Aylesby blood is appreciated. A very large number 
of rams have gone to Ireland, some to France, Australia, and 
California, and a few even to Jamaica and St. Helena ; while 
near at home Mr. Torr numbers amongst his cnstomers residents 
in Scotland, Wales, and most of the English counties. 
From 2400 to 2500 sheep are annuallj' taken to the clipping- 
boards, about one-half of them being hoggets. The whole of the 
sheep on the farm are washed at the same time, — about seven days 
' Joum. Roy. Agricultural Soc' Secoud Series. Vol. iv. p. 340. 
