Farm-Prize Competition, 1880. 
501 
Shepherd's Guide,' a volume which contains the marks of all 
the sheep in the district. Mr. Abbot's enthusiasm is almost 
contagious, so energetic is he in the praise of his favourites. 
" I am one," says he, " to argue that there is not a breed in the 
wide world capable of taking the place of the Herdwick. This 
beautiful [!] and useful animal can stand the rain and hail, can 
brave the strongest blasts which sweep these northern hills ; 
and I know from experience that the intensity of the storm is 
often terrible. Yet the hardy Herdwick is always to the fore 
in the spring, ready to climb to the summits of the loftiest 
mountains and proudly look down on his less exalted and less 
beautiful fellow-creatures, the Mugs and Downs, pasturing 
lazily on the flats below ! " In jfinishing his essay, so carried 
away is Mr. Abbot by his enthusiasm that he " drops into 
poetry," prose being apparently too weak any longer to express 
his fervour. " These sheep," he says, " may justly stand in the 
estimation of admirers as among the most perfect of Nature's 
beauties. What is there so charming anywhere in the resources 
of animated nature as a lovely Herdwick? Beautiful to look 
upon, as well as ornamental I Who would not feel just a little 
proud to see them rolling down the mountain breasts, at times 
of washing and shearing, going mostly on land where nothing 
else could live, with fleeces flowing, and through their noses 
blowing ! " Having thus discovered that he has the gift of 
rhyme, Mr. Abbot concludes : — 
"May the flocks on the mountains still grow and increase, 
May their owners still live in contentment and peace ; 
May health attend each as through life they do go 
Is the wish of the writer whose name 's found below." 
To this brilliant finale I can only say " Amen ! " and any 
further remarks on Herdwicks on my part would be superfluous. 
The Prizes. 
The Prizes for Farms which were offered by the Carlisle 
Local Committee were divided into four Classes : — 
Class I. — For the best managed Aeable or Mixed FakM 
above 200 acres in extent, 407. ; for the second best, 201. 
Class II. — For the best-managed Arable or Mixed Farm, 
not less than 50 acres in extent and not over 200 acres, 35/. ; 
for the second best, 20/. 
Class III. — For the best-managed Stock or PaSTORAL Farm 
above 200 acres in extent, 35/. ; for the second best, 20/. 
Cl,ASS IV.— For the best-managed Stock or PastORAL Farm, 
