Nottihghamshire and Lincolnshire in 1888 : Class 1. 521 
progeny still exist as a specialty in tliese two counties, were imported from 
the continent ibr use in those great drainage undertakings. As late as 
the beginning of the present century it was not unusual for enterprising 
horsebreeders to import both stallions and mares from Flanders" (pages x-xi). 
He then goes on to sliow that black was the predominating 
colour of draught stallions in the first quarter of the present 
century, and says that " the Eastern Counties horse was known 
and described as the ' Black Lincolnshire Horse.' " 
Certain peculiarities of soil or climate, or both, undoubtedly 
tend to produce and preserve the much-prized points of feather 
and bone which so greatly distinguish the Shire breed ; and 
Lincoln has them in abundance. A summer run on its strong 
pastures has a marvellous effect in building up frame and 
substance in any colts which are thinly put upon them. The 
county should therefore be able to hold its own in the competi- 
tion. But whether or not Lincoln men now reap the lion's 
share of the Shire horse prizes, no traveller by road or rail, who 
sees the splendid teams in the fields or upon the roads of the 
county, can fail to be struck with their high average excellence, 
and may well doubt if it is anywhere surpassed. 
The curly-coated and lop-eared Lincolnshire Pigs are capital 
animals too of their kind. They fatten readily, and make up to 
a great size, and with a Berkshire cross in addition can be made 
to suit any possible requirements. Some astonishing mountains 
of flesh and fat were shown to the Judges upon several of the 
competing farms, which were to be killed and salted for the 
boarding team-men, in accordance with a custom which will be 
alluded to again. 
General System of Farming in Lincolnshire. 
Variety of soil leads very naturally to great differences in • 
its treatment, and it would probably be difficult to find any 
system of farm management, any description or rotation of 
crops, in practice or in use elsewhere, which is not somewhere 
or other represented within the wide borders of the county. 
Lincolnshire is famous for the rapidity and thoroughness of 
the revolution which, beginning in earnest only towards the end 
of the last century, so effectually transformed its 350,000 acres 
of fen morass into one of the richest and most productive 
districts of England. At a still later period, and in still shorter 
time, its trackless heath, so lonely and vast that it needed, and 
actually had, its tall lighted beacon to guide the traveller by 
night, like a mariner at sea, across its barren wastes, was changed 
into trim and highly farmed enclosures, productive as a garden. 
Again, at about the same time the hitherto wild and very 
