690 Report on the Sheep Exhibited at Windsor', 
Shropshires. 
The date of the establishment of the Shropshires is indefinite, 
inasmuch as it originated from the improvement of a native 
stock — the Morfe Common breed. The Longmynds of Shrop- 
shire and the Cannock Chase breed of Staffordshire were also 
some of the elements which went to form the improved breed, 
Mr. Samuel Meire is commonly cited as the pioneer of the 
modern Shropshire. He set to work to improve the sheep of 
the district in the most direct and certain way. He obtained 
some Southdown rams from Mr. Ellman, of Glynde, and with 
great judgment introduced also a cross of Leicester blood. 
Speaking at a local farmers' club meeting, Mr. J. Meire (as 
quoted by Mr. Spooner) said, " The original breed was horned, 
and the first attempt at improvement was to get rid of these 
incumbrances ; and there is little doubt that this was effected 
by a cross of the Southdown. This sheep was well adapted for 
the Downs, but for the enclosures of Shropshire something more 
docile was required; consequently recourse was had to the 
Leicester." In due time the standard aimed at was attained, 
and any further crossing was rendered unnecessary by careful 
selection. 
Shropshires were first honoured by the provision of separate 
classes at the Royal Show held at Canterbury in 1860, and 
since that time they have always formed a large and important 
section of the show of sheep. Indeed, the wonderful enterprise 
of the breeders and the numbers which they send for exhibition 
are the admiration of all show-goers. At the Wolverhampton 
Show in 1871 there were no less than 528 animals in the 
Shropshire Classes. Sir Jacob Wilson, in his report as Senior 
Steward,* remarked that " This breed of sheep is rapidly extend- 
ing its usefulness throughout the country, for to my mind there 
is no better ' rent-paying ' sheep in existence, and I rejoiced to 
see them forming the chief and prominent feature in the Wolver- 
hampton Showyard." At the Oxford Show in the previous year 
a standard for judging Shropshires had been, with much wisdom 
and foresight, adopted by the Judges, and at their recommen- 
dation agreed upon by the breeders. It was as follows: — 
" 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." ^ 
' Journal, Vol. VII. 2nd Series (1871), p. 601. 
» Ibid. Vol. VI. (1870), p. 561. 
