524 Report on the Exhibition of Live Stock at Manchester. 
which I cannot subscribe to. It is diametrically opposed to the teaching of tLc 
Bakewell school. 
I will conclude my remarks upon the young Southdown Eams by stating 
that the first prize was truly deserved. The second and third prizes were 
given to sheep of moderate pretensions, and we had some difficulty in the way 
of commendation. 
Our attention was next directed to Class 102 (old Eams), where the 
character was tolerably uniform. The splendid ram 137 was found upon in- 
spection to be deficient in wool. The first-prize Ram, indeed, had ill-formed 
hocks and knees, which for working purposes on hilly districts are very 
objectionable. The third-prize Earn had his faults as well as merits, and he 
was very narrow. 
Now came the tug of war in Class 103 for Shearling Ewes. The first and 
second prizes were given in this class, according to my opinion, improperly. 
The five in each pen represented different flocks in appearance, although no 
doubt bred from the same flock. The backs and quality of these ewes v/cre 
good, but with such detestable necks and faces that I doubt if any breeder 
on the Southdown Hills would retain them for breeding purposes were they 
to stray into their flocks. 
The third-prize ewes were useful, and with care might be easily improved. 
They have plenty of size to spare, depth of flesh, and might easily be reduced 
to first-rate quality. Nos. 948 and 950 were meritorious. 
After then giving his opinion as to the Hampshire sheep, 
which will be alluded to subsequently, Mr. EUman concludes 
by saying— 
If in most of the decisions in the short-wool classes the characteristics of 
Southdown sheep were ignored, still upon the whole the show was a success, 
and the increased quantity of food compensated for the loss of quality. 
Mr. Ellman doubts the necessity of having inspection, if the 
Judges are acquainted with their business. He noticed some 
sheep which, from having tumours, he thinks should not have 
been passed. He thinks too much care cannot be bestowed 
upon the selection of Judges, who should be Avell acquainted 
with the stock for which they are appointed, and he asks, 
" Should they not be eminent breeders of pure-bred animals ? " 
Probably Mr. Ellman's colleagues would stoutly maintain — 
and, if they answered his remarks and arguments at a corre- 
sponding length to his own, would undertake to prove — that they 
too had, in their decisions, shown a due regard for the main- 
tenance of the typical character of the pure Southdown breed. 
Still an impression seems certainly to have prevailed among 
many in the Show Yard that, with respect to not a few of the 
sheep exhibited, there was room for criticism as regarded their 
deficiency in uniformity of character, and one cannot but consider 
that he who watches over the sources of any of our great national 
breeds of stock, with, it may be, even an excess of jealousy, is 
fulfilling a useful part in his generation. 
Of Hampshire Downs there were only 18 entries, and they 
are thus reported on by two of the Judges : — 
