529 
The Chester Meeting. 
Committee. These were considered by the Judges the best 
class they had to deal with, and they noticed nearly all the pens. 
No difficulty was experienced, however, in awarding the first 
prize, which went to “ a pen of very well matched rams, with 
excellent heads, character, and colour, and with good wool and 
heavy flesh combined with plenty of size and bone.” 
Pens of three ram lambs (Class 141) showed, on the whole, 
good character, the first prize going to “a matchy pen with 
beautiful coats and skin.” 
Pens of three shearling ewes (Class 142) likewise possessed, 
as a class, good Shropshire character, the first prize pen 
being “ great good ewes with capital wool, and legs well 
placed, but wanting just a little finish about their heads.” 
Southdowns. — Numerically this breed came next to the 
Shropshires, though present to the extent of 20 pens less than 
Southdown breeders put forward at Warwick last year. The 
84 pens in the Chester Catalogue represented 1G flocks, namely, 
4 in Sussex, 2 each in Gloucester, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Surrey; 
and 1 each in Berks, Essex, Kent and Notts. Of the 10 prizes, 
Norfolk secured 5, Suffolk 2, Sussex 2, and Berks 1. Two- 
shear rams (Class 143) were the weakest part of the display, 
“ with great diversity of character and wool.” Shearling rams 
(Class 144) were exceedingly good, the first prize ram “ being 
a specially good representative of the breed, his style, character, 
and quality being all that could be desired.” Amongst ram 
lambs (Class 145) “ competition was very severe,” and there 
was but little to choose between the first two lambs. Of ewes 
(Class 146) the first prize pen is described as “ very massive,” 
the second prize pen as “ matching and of good style,” and 
the third prize pen as “ very level.” 
Hampshire Downs. — Thirty-three pens were entered, repre- 
senting 11 flocks in six counties, — Hants 4, Cambs 2, Wilts 2, 
Beds 1, Berks 1, Herts 1. Nine prizes were awarded, namely, 
3 to Berks, 3 to Hants, 2 to Cambs, and 1 to Wilts. 
Shearling rams (Class 148), excepting the first prize animal, 
“ were not a very strong class.” On the other hand, 
ram lambs (Class 149) were, excepting one or two pens, “ a 
very good class,” the first prize pen being of great merit. 
Shearling ewes (Class 150) were likewise “ a very good class 
indeed, and would show well in any company.” The Judges 
“ sum up the show of Hampshire Down Sheep on the whole as 
reflecting great credit on the exhibitors.” 
Suffolks. — Of this breed 18 pens were entered, this number 
being identical with the entry at Warwick last year. Four 
flocks were represented, 3 in Suffolk and 1 in Cambs. The 
