Agriculture of Nottinghamshire. 
cially when it is fed on the turnip, a food not natural to it, and for 
that reason requiring the assistance of some such auxiliaiy. 
During the several years when there was an annual prize show 
at Blyth (which is now discontinued), the animals from this 
district exhibited there, might have borne comparison with any 
others that could have been brought against them. The show 
took place in May, at the fair which is held during that month. 
The competition was between the exhibitors of the best pen of 
20 wether hogs, clipped. The age of the sheep would then be 
about 15 months. The weights to which those animals attained 
were in some instances 35 lbs. a quarter, and even more. Amongst 
the most successful of those competitors was Mr. Allison, of 
Bilby, who has for many years distinguished himself as a breeder 
of pure Leicester sheep. We mention the above only to show 
what may be obtained by superior blood, with unremitting care 
and attention. 
Southdowns are kept on some of the large estates, but they do 
not obtain a place amongst the general stock of the county. We 
greatly doubt, indeed, in opposition to all that has been said to 
the contrary by the advocates of Southdowns, whether they can 
compete with the Leicesters, age and weight considered. We 
made an experiment some years ago between the two, placing 
them as far as possible on an equal footing, and the result deter- 
mined itself greatly in favour of the Leicesters. When fat lambs 
are wanted for an early market, the Southdowns possess an ad- 
vantage, by being more hardy, more prolific, and nursing their 
lambs better than the Leicester ewes ; but where the lambs are 
required to be wintered, and then go to an early market, they fail 
in both mutton and wool ; their habits are more erratic, they 
want the quietude which the Leicesters possess, and which con- 
tributes so much to their being made fat. 
Before we quit this subject, we cannot but briefly advert to the 
greatly increased number of sheep now kept in this district, com- 
pared with the time when Mr. Lowe wrote. Many persons can 
remember, subsequently to that period, when forest farms of 
300 acres of land had not more than 50 ewes upon them, and 
these of an inferior kind, and that much difficulty was often ex- 
perienced in supporting them through the winter. These same 
farms in the present day, as we can bear testimony, support from 
500 to 700 sheep throughout the winter — the greater part of 
which are sent fat to market at weights of from 80 lbs. to 120 lbs. 
each. 
We need scarcely observe that the breed of sheep known for- 
merly as the one peculiar to this district, and called " The Forest 
Sheep," is now nearly extinct. Judging from the general ap- 
pearance of the few which remain^ they indicate an animal more 
c 2 
