Report on Live- Stock at Carlisle. 
G49 
SOUTHDOWNS made a good entry of 52 pens, contributed 
from the famous Hocks of His Royal Highness the Prince of 
Wales, the Duke of Richmond, Lord Walsingham, Sir Nicholas 
W. Throckmorton, Bart., Messrs. VV. Rigden, Hugh Gorringe, 
and J. J. Colman, M.P., all of whom, in close competition, re- 
ceived prizes. No breed shows so much uniformity of character. 
There seems of late years a wise disposition to some increase 
of size. The Shearling Rams, although mustering 24 pens, did 
not exhibit so much uniformity or quality as the older sheep. 
The Duke of Richmond, who for so many years was in the 
front rank at all Shows, for some time has been less successful, 
but here came forward again in all his old form, and in the 
Aged Class, amongst nearly a score of very superior entries, 
stood first with a beautiful two-year-old sheep, as near perfec- 
tion as may be, and signalised by the Judges as being " one of 
the best sheep in the yard." The Ewes were not so remarkable. 
Lord Walsingham's first-prize pen included four very good and 
stylish, and one which did not match ; while in Mr. Colman's 
second pen, of undeniable quality, an indifferent one had also to 
be introduced — so difficult is it, even in a large good flock, 
to obtain many individuals which reach the highest standard 
of excellence. The Judges thus briefly summarise the results of 
their examination : — 
Class 128. Shearling Rams. — A strong class as to numbers, but deficient 
in quality and wool. 
Class 129. Rams of any age. — An unusually good class, showing much 
breed and qualitj', the first-prize sheep being one of the best sheep in the 
yard. 
Class 130. Shearling Ewes. — A small class. The first-prize pen were 
large useful ewes, but somewhat deficient in quality, and not so matcby 
as we have seen from Merton. 
George Jonas. 
Hugh Penfold. 
ShropSHIEES, although one of the most recently established 
breeds, already takes a high place in public estimation. Many 
breeders have shown great skill and judgment in consolidating 
and harmonising good points, in securing, and, what is more 
difficult, in perpetuating, size, style, colour, and quality of wool. 
Their successes are patent in many Showyards ; no breed has 
been so numerously represented at recent Royals. Hundreds 
of rams, at remunerative prices, are sold every autumn at Shrews- 
bury, Birmingham, and other marts, for use amongst pure-bred 
flocks and for crossing. With a class of 56 useful Shearlings 
the Judges had an arduous task. It is high testimony to the 
uniform excellence of a class when it is officially recorded that 
there is little to choose between the three first-prize animals ; " 
when regrets are expressed that " a fourth prize was not at their 
