Beport on the Exhibition of British and Foreign Sheep, Sfc. 641 
generally in the shearing of the sheep, and we regret much to report that 
instead of further improvement in this respect, many exhibitors arc trying to 
fill up with wool where the natural shape and mutton are deficient, and wc 
wish to express our dissatisfaction that the Iiules of the Societj^aro not strictly 
adhered to. 
This year also the dressing of lambs was carried out by exhibitors, and 
according to our instructions wc recommended the disqualification in every 
case, including the best lambs in the yard. 
Two of your inspectors here have acted for many years, and we regret to 
say that from the earliest years of our attendance in the Royal show-yard, we 
have found this to be one of the worst for dressing and false shearing. We 
trust, however, that from the numbers j'ou have disqualified on our recom- 
mendation — and in each case we are prepar(.'d to stand on our decision — exhi- 
bitors in future will be more careful as to the shearing and dressing of sheep. 
William JoiiSON. 
j. b. workmax. 
James E. Rawlence. 
The first breed in the order of the Catalogue — the Leicester — 
fitly placed in the van of modern improved breeds, and deserv- 
ing precedence likewise for its incalculable usefulness as the 
improver of many other breeds, and one of the most potent of 
factors in food-production by cross-breeding, was generally con- 
sidered to be creditably represented, notwithstanding the short- 
comings with regard to wool of several otherwise fine rams. 
The somewhat chilling tone, however, of the Judges' Report, 
must temper the eulogiums of critics less competent than the 
appointed arbitrators to speak authoritatively. The following 
are the passages referring to the Leicester classes in the Report 
of Messrs. Casswell, Sanday, and Paddison, upon the Lincoln 
and Leicester sheep : — 
Class 139. Shearling Bams. — Class generally uneven, both as regards form 
iind wool, the mutton and backs showing a deficiency, the first-prize sheep 
showing more combination of the old Leicester form, with the exception of his 
wool. 
Class 140. Aged Earns. — Not a good class, some of the best formed sheep 
being deficient in wool. 
Class 141 . Eiues. — A fairly good class. 
Class 142. Ewe Lambs. — This class only moderate. 
With these brief remarks the Leicesters are dismissed by the 
Judges, who are evidently, and no doubt healthily, chary of 
praise for anything but the highest degree of merit. Still, look- 
ing along the pens of Leicester ewes and rams (the lambs may 
be omitted as unquestionably a weak class), and supplementing 
the evidence of the eye by that of the hand, one could not feel 
much ashamed of these very moderate classes, nor fail to own 
that they prove great results to have been accomplished by the 
skill of our stock-breeders. The principal contest in both 
classes of rams was between the entries of Mr. Borton and 
Mr. Hutchinson, one of the former winning the first, and one of 
VOL XV.— S. S. 2 X 
