164 
Ohm Forest Sheep. 
the Forest laud is much restricted, the larger portion having been 
broken up or enclosed, consequently the sheep have to lead different 
lives, and instead of roaming about for four or five years, picking 
up a scanty but not expensive living, they are kept a portion of their 
time on lowland, meadow, or arable land. This involves greater 
outlay, so that earlier maturity and greater size are found to be 
necessary. 
From what has been said it will be inferred that the Radnor 
Forest and the Clun Forest breeds are much intermixed, but the 
Clun is the superior breed, because it was derived from a sheep which 
possessed exceptional qualities, and these the interbreeding which 
has taken place with the Radnor, since the comparatively recent 
curtailment of forest land, has been unable to deface. The Radnors, 
too, have been improved by the crosses of the crossbred animal 
which has resulted from the association of the two breeds. These 
have been further improved by other breeds ; the latest, and the one 
which is most clearly in evidence, being the Shropshire. 
There is at present rather a want of unanimity between breeders 
as to some of the points which should be accepted as permanent 
standards to give the Clun Forest breed a fixity of type ; the chief 
one, perhaps, being as to the colour of the face. Some breeders of 
high-class animals advocate a black face, others a mottled face, while 
many prefer the tan or fawn-coloured face with an occasional white 
spot ; each group of advocates averring that sheep of the colour they 
champion are the best thrivers and the most profitable. The 
question will probably be settled by the extent to which the Shrop- 
shire sheep is called to aid in the further perfecting of the animal. 
Without venturing an opinion, it seems rational to suppose that, as 
the breed originally sprang from a pale-faced sheep, the tan and 
white may fairly be accepted, and it is certain that some of this 
colour are of splendid physique and are all-round good animals. 
This need not necessarily be held, however, for an illustration of 
the opposite ruling is shown in the case of the Hampshire Down 
breed, which on one side sprang from a white-faced breed, and 
results have fully justified its development into a black-faced sheep. 
On the other hand, the point to settle seems to be whether the Clun 
Forest breed shall retain its distinctly Forest type, or whether it 
shall be converted into a Down breed. If it retains its Forest type, 
it is not improbable that the tan and white will prevail. 
A well-bred Clun Forest ram, as it now stands, is an imposing 
animal, and one which demands admiration from all who “possess 
an eye to a sheep.” Granted the bx’eed is a little unformed, or 
perhaps does not show the effect of the skill of the breed-maker, as 
do some of the older-established breeds, yet there is undoubtedly in it 
those chai’acteristics which can be moulded by skilful hands into a 
sheep which would be hard to beat. The excellence of the meat 
and wool cannot be denied ; while the shapely well-covered head, 
with slightly Roman nose, the bold sjrag, and the free imperious 
step denote a robustness with which the breeder may take liberties 
in order to produce a more rapid maturity, without being afraid 
