DOMESTIC BEEEDS OF SHEEP. 49 
The fecundity of the breed is ordinary, a lamb to a ewe being con- 
sidered a good average. 
The breed is criticized in England for lacking fixity of type and for 
being prominent in the backbone and shoulders. Hardly enough 
specimens have come to this country to enable one to criticize them 
justly. 
The Kent, or Romney Marsh, Sheep Breeders' Association of Eng- 
land wa3 founded in 1895, and it has done much to advance the 
interests of the breed. The New Zealand Romney Marsh Sheep 
Breeders' Association was organized about the same time. The 
Romney Sheep Breeders' Association of America was organized 
December 5, 1911, at Chicago. Up to January 1, 1914, they have 
registered 124 head of sheep. The association has been very active 
in advancing the breed in every possible way, and a number of other 
importations have resulted from their endeavors. The offices are at 
Mechanicsburg, Ohio. 
THE WENSLEYDALE. 
The Wensleydale is the modern form of the old Teeswater breed. 
In some parts of their native country, notably North Lancashire, 
they are still known by the latter name. They were also locally 
known by the name of "Mugs" until 1876, since which time they 
have borne their present name. It is said that these sheep were 
used by Bakewell in developing the Leicester, and there is consider- 
able similarity between the two breeds. However, this likeness may 
be due to the Leicester blood that was subsequently introduced into 
the Wensleydale. Mr. R. Outwaite, of Appleton, the "Patriarch 
of the Wensley dales," used a large Leicester ram, a son of which was 
the sire of the famous ram "Blue Cap," shown at the Liverpool 
Royal in 1841. Mr. Outwaite refused 100 guineas for this famous 
sire. To him and to his sons can be traced most of the leading 
characteristics of the modern Wensleydale. The Leicester rams 
imparted early maturity, smaller, more compact carcasses, better 
quality of mutton, and a finer, denser fleece to the old breed. The 
present location of the breed is in north and northwest Yorkshire, 
Cumberland, and Westmoreland Counties. 
In July, 1906, F. H. Neal, of Lucan, Ontario, Canada, imported 
three yearling ewes and one ram of the Wensleydale breed for the 
Wyoming Experiment Station. These did not prove popular, being 
too leggy and having open fleeces, and when crossed upon other 
breeds did not give flattering results. It is possible that the poor 
showing made was due to the fact that those imported were not good 
specimens. 
