618 Report on the Exhibition of Live-Stock at Taunton. 
the nicest sheep in the yard. He was first, second, and third 
Avith his shearling rams, first and third with his older rams, and 
again first with his only pen of shearling ewes. The shearling, 
which had previously made his mark at the Chipping Xorton 
and Croydon Shows, was again first here, and Mr. Druce pos- 
sesses in him a ram of wonderful merit and of still greater 
promise. The Judges report briefly on the Oxfordshire Downs 
to this effect : — 
The J udges are of opinion that the Class of Shearling Earns, excepting the 
livize-takers, was not up to the usual standard. 
The whole class of rams of all other ages was exceedingly good. 
The same may be said of the shearling ewes. 
; Hexbt Overman. 
James E. Rawlesce. 
Hekry p. Hart. 
Of the Southdowns there is little but good to be said ; and with 
the flocks of Lord Walsingham, the Duke of Richmond, Mr. 
Rigden, and Sir William Throckmorton well represented, it is 
not surprising that the farmers of Somersetshire should have 
declared that they never saw such sheep before. The Merton 
flock is now quite as good as ever it was in the time of the 
late Lord Walsingham, whose son was first and second with 
two shearling rams, and commended with two others. He 
beat the Duke of Richmond again in the two-shear class, 
being first and third to the Duke's second ; but the Goodwood 
flock was avenged in the class for ewes, not only keeping Lord 
Walsingham out of first place, but being highly commended 
with a second pen. Sir William Throckmorton could only 
obtain one third prize, and Mr. Rigden was once more beaten 
pointless ; but the sheep which did not get noticed by the 
Judges would probably have taken prizes at many other Shows, 
so good were the Southdowns at Taunton all round. The Judges 
say :— 
The class for shearling rams was well filled, and much difficulty was expe- 
rienced by the Judges in making their awards. They much regretted that 
they could not feel justified in giving to a sheep of superb quality of mutton 
and fleece, No. 720, more than a high commendation, on account of an objec- 
tionable head. 
The class for all other ages contained many very good sheep ; whilst |the 
shearling ewes were the best ever seen by any of the three Judges engaged. 
Henry P. Hart. 
Hesry Overman. 
James E. Rawlenck. 
If the Southdowns were good both in respect to quality and 
substance, the Shropshires were even better ; and there is not a 
single breed of sheep which has made greater or more rapid 
improvement than this, which, not many years ago, was classed 
