244 TJie Agricultural Features of the Paris Exhibition. 
ameliorated since its introduction into France, there is still 
room for further improvement, more particularly in its mutton- 
producing properties. It is also clear that the influence neces- 
sary to produce that improvement does not exist in any of the 
native races. Indeed, as a rule, French sheep are poor mutton- 
producers. Of the meat eaten in France, only about 13 per 
cent, consists of mutton, and yet, small as the consumption is, 
it is greatly in excess of the home supply. The yearly im- 
portations exceed the exportations by over 1,000,000 head, and 
the balance of the money-cost is stated by Mr. Richardson to 
exceed 2,000,000/. Great Britain has taken the lead of all 
countries in the production of mutton, as well as in the raising 
of beef ; and therefore it is natural that France should have come 
to England to seek the influence by which the desired improve- 
ment in its sheep might be effected. The New Kentish breed was 
tried, but did not succeed ; and, as far as British breeds are con- 
cerned, the Leicester and Southdown breeds have now the field 
almost wholly to themselves. They have both been used exten- 
sively for many years ; and, despite a prejudice against them 
in some districts, they are fast spreading over the country. As 
already hinted, these two important English breeds succeed 
fairly in France in their pure state ; but it is evident that their 
proper mission In that country is the amelioration of the native 
and acclimatized races. It has also been demonstrated that 
they are emlnentl3' qualified for that purpose, and that already 
they have done much good work. Ever since the commence- 
ment of this crossing, a hot controversy has been going on lb 
France among the votaries of the two races, as to which is best 
fitted for mating with the French breeds. We might turn Irish 
and reply, "Both are best!" In dry exposed parts, where 
pasture is bare or short, and therefore a good deal of walking ne- 
cessary, the Southdown deserves the preference ; but, on the other 
hand, where there is fair shelter and good pasture, the Leicester- 
cross should prove the more profitable. From the result of the 
Government sale at Grignon, in May 1877, it would seem 
that In that neighbourhood, at any rate, the Leicesters were most 
in favour. The Leicester tups averaged 28Z. each, one bringing 
44/. ; 11 of the Leicester-Merino cross averaged 31/., one reach- 
ing 66/. ; 5 Shropshires brought an average of 17/. lOi. ; and 
12 Southdowns 13/. each. The arguments against " microscopic 
cutlets," and in favour of heavy early maturing sheep, are met 
by such doubtful assertions as that It costs " less to grow 110 lbs. 
of mutton with two sheep than with one, and that one pound of 
mutton from a two-year-old sheep costs less than from a sheep 
only one year old." There are no doubt some parts of I'rance 
in which shelter and pasture are too scanty for a soft, heavy, 
