The Royal Agricultural Society of England. S77 = 611 
if Pigs were for the first time divided into two sections, de- 
ignated " Large " and " Small " breeds. At Lewes, in 1852, 
ventish sheep ; at Gloucester, in 1853, Shropshire sheep ; at 
.incoln, in 1854, Lincoln sheep ; and at Carlisle, in 1855, 
lieviot and Herdwick sheep were similarly recognised by the 
'ociety as local breeds deserving of encouragement. In 1853, 
Iso, the open class for sheep was divided into two, one for 
Long-wooUed sheep not qualified to compete as Leicesters," 
ud the other for " Short-woolled sheep not qualified to compete 
s Southdowns." 
It is not necessary to follow in detail the prize-sheets of each Shropshire 
uccessive year, but it will probably surprise many to learn that ^'^^'^P- 
t was not until the Warwick Meeting in 1859 that Shropshire 
Keep were deemed of sufficient national importance to entitle 
lem to rank as a separate breed in the Society's Showyard ; 
nd it may not be out of place to mention that, although twenty 
ears have since then nearly elapsed, the true characteristics of 
Shropshire sheep have been a " bone of contention " until the 
ist two or three years. This matter would not require notice in 
sketch of the Royal Agricultural Society if it did not forcibly 
lustrate the results of the Annual Exhibitions as an educational 
istitution, in addition to their influence as a stimulant to 
Feeders of pure stock. Some years ago the Shropshire breeders 
etitioned the Council of the Society to appoint certain well- 
nown connoisseurs of the breed as Judges for a term of years, 
)r the avowed purpose of fixing, by means of their awards, the 
ue type and character of a Shropshire sheep. The Council, 
1 reality, gave effect to the desire of the memorialists ; and 
ms the animals decorated by the Society's Judges became 
nnually very special objects of study to those interested in 
le breed. Each one saw for himself what to acquire as well 
3 what to avoid, and with the knowledge of his own flock could 
stimate in what direction his efforts should be turned. In this 
idirect manner the Society's Shows have enormously increased 
16 number of good animals of all descriptions throughout the 
3untry, while the experience of every winner of Show-honours 
;stifies to the direct value of a Royal Prize and even of a Com- 
lendation. 
The Battersea Show of 1862 was the turning-point in the Present policy 
istory and the policy of the Society's Exhibitions of Live ^jj'^g^^" g';!^^^ 
tock. Held in the year of the International Exhibition, when Meetino- in 
le means of locomotion in and about London were already 18G2. 
vertaxed, and in a suburb of the metropolis which was almost 
laccessible to the multitude, it was not visited by so large a 
umber of people as might have been expected, and the Society 
ansequently suffered a large pecuniary loss. But the benefit 
