Agricultural Notes on Hertfordshire. 
317 
the Roman nose, and other traits which render this flock remark- 
able, both as a record of the past, and a most interesting instance 
of the successful breeding of long woolled sheep. It is said, 
and the assertion is borne out by the appearance, great size, and 
noble character of the flock, that the weight to which the ewes 
attain when fatted is 20 stone, that a teg has been known to 
shear 21] lb. of wool ; and that the average weight of two fleeces 
is 28 lb., or 1 tod. The flock now unfortunately numbers 
only 200. The value placed on them for breeding purposes may 
be learned by the significant fact, that all the ram lambs are 
saved, and command a ready sale at good prices. 
It may be a question whether this breed and quality of sheep 
is that best fitted to a neighbourhood and soil such as that on 
which it has been so long and so successfully maintained ; the 
mere fact of its existence, however, supplies an argument in its 
favour. They are said to do better and to be more hardy than 
the Lincolns, by which, from time to time, the stock has been 
replenished, and compared this year favourably with some 
Lincolns newly imported, which stood beside them in the fold. 
Implements, 
One novelty among implements is to he found in the ad- 
justment of shafts for the purpose of turning,- or rather re- 
versing the action of a heavy iron roller, an unpatented invention 
of the owner of Beechwood, which weighs 3 tons, and can be 
loaded by filling a cradle with stones up to 4 tons. The roller 
is used either on the sward of the park, or to compress the roads ; 
in either case, the difficulty is to turn so heavy an implement 
with two horses drawing abreast, and necessarily leaning on a 
shait. This is avoided by fitting the double shaft to the upper 
ot two hollow discs of woodwork encircling the cylinder, which 
revolves after the manner of a railway turn-table on that beneath 
it. For the purpose of turning, two vertical iron pins, by which 
the discs are fastened together, are drawn, the horses make a 
halt turn, the pins are replaced, and the roller is ready to move 
in the opposite direction, without the least strain or inconvenience 
to the team. 
VOL. XXV. 
