Report on the Exhibition of Live Stock at Manchestei'. 525 
Only 'tliicc exhibitors. The sheep shown were very creditable. Mr. A. 
Morrison obtained first and second in Shearling Hams, Mr. Russell first prize 
for ixged Rams, and Mr. Eawlence first and second prize for Shearling Ewes, 
as well as second prize for his aged Ham. 
Mr. Ellman says : — 
The Hampshire classes were very useful, but I have seen better shown. 
The two pens of ewes did much credit to their breeders; they finished a close 
race for first prize. The Old Rams of this large breed were not equal to others 
on former occasions. The first-prize ram was fitted only for commercial pur- 
poses ; the hide and fat are valuable articles in certain markets, the quality 
of mutton is nil. The other rams in the same class were not well-formed, but 
of good quality both of mutton and wool. The younger rams showed an 
improvement ; but I cannotije responsible for the correctness of the awards. 
The classes of Shropshire sheep are, as they deserve to be, 
very highly spoken of by the Judges, who say : — 
Glass 104. Shearling Rams. — The entries of rams in this class comprise the 
unprecedented number of 74, a large proportion of which possess very con- 
siderable merit. The first-prize Ram, No. 979, belongs to Lord Chesham, and 
is a very excellent animal, having a good well-covered back, wide loin, good 
and well placed dock, large legs of mutton, with a fleece of wool of fair weight 
and quality. The colour of the face is of a lighter shade than we like, but 
there is not sufficient to complain of to warrant us in passing over this ram, 
which we consider the best animal in both ram classes. 
The second and third prize Rams, viz. No. 999, the property of Mr. Coxon, 
and 990, belonging to Mr. Eeach, are also good animals, and excellent speci- 
mens of Shropshire Down sheep. 
Class 105. Rams of any other age. — The three prize animals possess con- 
siderable merit, and reflect credit on their owners. We consider this class 
well represented, and superior in many respects to what we have seen at former 
exhibitions. 
Class 106. Shearling Ewes. — In this class there are 11 entries, and it will 
be readily seen what our opinion of them is, when, with one exception, we 
specially noticed every pen. The first prize was awarded to No. 1066, the 
property of Mr. Nock ; the second to 1065, belonging to Lord Chesham ; the 
third to 1070, the property of Mr. H. Wood. As a whole, the class is the best 
we have seen. 
If there were differences of opinion as to whether the type of 
the pure Southdown was being preserved in some of our flocks, 
as evidenced at Manchester, there could be but one opinion as to 
the want of a standard by which to judge of the typical merits 
of a Shropshire sheep. Nothing can be more puzzling to the 
uninitiated than to attempt to arrive at any conclusion as to what 
are the fixed landmarks which should guide him in his selection 
of a model sheep of this breed ; and, beautiful as were some of 
the animals in these classes, they clearly lacked uniformity 
of character, and it seems very desirable that the Shropshire 
breeders should settle among themselves, once and for all, the 
colour and shape, as well as the quality of wool, of this noble 
class of sheep, well described as one of the best rent-paying breed 
of sheep in England. 
