Report on the Exhibition of Live Stock at Hull. 
519 
Shropshire breeders have, so far as is indicated by animals 
exhibited in the yard, grounds for congratulation, especially in 
comparison with last year's Show at Cardiff. Successive Judges 
have continued for years to impress upon them the desirability 
of securing a uniformity of tyjie, if this really useful and rent- 
paying sheep, as it has so often been called, is to obtain the hold 
"which it merits in other parts of England beyond the midland 
counties. And year after year, with the exception above named, 
it has been satisfactory to find that the reports show a decided, 
though slow, advance in this direction. A useful standard was 
given by the Judges of this class at the Oxford Show, which may, 
perhaps, be not inaptly repeated here. They then laid down : 
1. That a Shropshire sheep should possess great depth of firm 
flesh, indicated by a good muscular neck, straight and wide 
■back, with ribs well-sprung, and a heavy leg of mutton. 
2. That the face and legs should be of a uniformly dark 
colour, and well-covered head ; the fleece thick-set, and free 
from grey. 
The names of the Judges at Hull, Mr. T. Horley, The Fosse, 
Leamington ; Mr. R. H. Masfen, Pendeford, Wolverhampton ; 
and Mr. C. Randell, Chadbury, Evesham, will be an indication 
that in their awards they have kept these points in view, and 
their report, which I give in full, is well deserving the con- 
sideration of every Shropshire breeder. It is as follows : — 
The breeders of these sheep again exhibited their shearling rams in large 
numbers, and among them were many good animals, the whole class showing 
a greater approach to imiformity of character, colour, and wool, than has 
heretofore prevailed. There are still some exceptions, notably one belonging 
to the owner of the first-prize sheep, so good in all but his head, that but for 
the coarseness and want of character shown there, he must have taken the 
place of his companion, whose bead, on the contrary, was not masculine 
«nough. 
The old sheep were less numerous, but the form and quality of three of 
them were remarkably good. The Reserve Number also was a good animal. 
In the rest, character appears to have been sacrificed to size, and, although 
T^ery useful animals, the Judges felt that they could not confer upon them any 
•distinction. 
The yearling ewes, upon the whole, were not as good as in former years ; 
four of the pen exhibited by Lord Chesham were, however, unexceptionable ; 
the other pens containing animals characterised like the yearling rams by 
improved uniformity of character. 
Upon the whole, it may be said of the Shropshire sheep exhibited at Hull 
that they very f.iirly represented the character of this very useful rent-paying 
^ind of sheep, marked by hardiness of constitution, large amount of lean 
flesh, with small weight of offal, and good quality and weight of wool. The 
exhibitors are entitled to the credit of having done much to enhance the 
Teputation of this valuable breed of sheep, which is now so firmly established 
in the midland counties. 
Among the prize-takers Lord Chesham kept up his reputation 
