Report on the Exhibition of Live-Stock at Derhy. 589 
Hampshire and other Shortwoolled Breeds. 
Many persons wonder that the Council of the Royal do not 
give special prizes for Hampshire Downs. Many hold that these 
are the veritable " coming " sheep, and set them above the Shrop- 
shire Downs. But they have not the quality nor the style, nor 
the taking form of the latter breed ; neither is their flesh so 
delicate, nor their wool so good. This at least is the opinion 
of an unprejudiced witness who has fed both. Nevertheless it 
is a fine breed, adopted and appreciated in various counties and 
countries. The early maturity of these sheep is marvellous. 
Wether-lambs, seven or eight months old, will weigh from 25 lbs. 
to 30 lbs. per quarter, and are sold in hundreds at Britford, Over- 
ton, Wilton, and Weyhill fairs, at prices ranging from 48s. to 
57s., and even to 60s. each. It is customary, as many are aware, 
to work ram-lambs of this breed ; and just after the Djrby Show, 
100 ram-lambs, not eight months old, made an average price of 
11/. 16s. 3rf., at the Fonthill sale, for immediate working. 
Ram-lambs of this breed have been let for 60 guineas for 
a month's service, and last year one firm of auctioneers in 
Wilts sold 1100 ram-lambs, at an average price of 10 guineas 
each, — not a bad price, considering the scarcity of money and 
the bad times ! 
Only eighteen Hampshire Downs came to Derby. " Any 
other Shortwoolled Breeds " were represented by a solitary 
Lonk, which looked unusually sheepish, and was decidedly 
" remote, unfriended, melancholy, slow." It is hardly necessary 
to say that he was not noticed by the Judges, who gave the first, 
second, and third prizes for Shearlings to Mr. Alfred Morrison, 
for his very superior trio of true type and character, of great 
weight, good flesh, and heavy wool. All the sheep in this class 
were good. Mr. Morrison took the first and third honours with 
two good Old Sheep, in a class of six : — " a noble payre," as a 
Wiltshire shepherd called them — Mr. Lambert taking the second 
prize. The four pens of ewes were a very even and excellent lot, 
the prize-pens of Mr. Read, Mr. Lambert, and Mr. Parsons, put 
respectively first, second, and third, being as good perhaps as were 
ever seen, showing in an eminent degree the great improvement 
made in this breed. Mr. Parsons' pen was so good that the 
Judges recommended that the third prize should be awarded. 
The Report of the Judges of Southdowns and Hampshires, 
annexed, gives fuller details than the Reports of some other 
Judges : — 
The Sotithdovns were well represented, most of the principal breeders 
sending sheep in the diff irent classes. 
Class 114. Yearling Bams. — 39 entries ; 4 absentees. This class was wall 
