66 
Shropshire Sheep. 
Two pioneer breeders mtist be mentioned in any article 
relating to Shropshire sheep, viz., Mr. Samuel Metre, formerly 
of Berrin -ton but latterly of Harley, and Mr. George Adney 
2 W rmrSarsSd^s 5 =ra£ 
no S that many of the best present-day 
flocks contain much of the Meire and Adney blood. 
A sidelight on the foundation of Mr. Adney’s famous flock 
is in the Farmers' .Magazine for 1859 in the report of 
live-stock which reads as follows Mr. Adney, a famous 
breeder of Shropshire Downs, has generally a first-class letting , 
his flock was founded upwards of forty years ago upon the old 
b ack oT grey faced sheep of the county, taking care to keep 
the dark-laid character and the fine and good wools. His 
first regular sales and lettings commenced in l«Dl at gooa 
prices, and for the last four years his sales and lettings 
averaged 1 SI. each, many of his best varying from - 0 
gU1 Mr? Edward Holland’s flock, we understand, quite equals 
thi This 1 !" vtaed bv'a "fport in a Shrewsbury paper giving 
an Iccount of on e 'of Mr. Adney’s sales at Har ey, when 
onwards of 800 gentlemen partook of luncheon well supplied 
and other bevels. Competition was keen and 
i ar „e nrices easilv realised. Rams made from ID to 95 0 umeas, 
ewfs Cmlto'S guineas, theaves from 3 to 5 guineas, ram 
lambs from 8 to 22 guineas, and ewe lambs 2 to 2 2 guineas. 
Buyels attended from Australia, France, Ireland, and several 
EU To h thos U e n who can call to mind the Shropshire sheep of 
fif 2 to sixty vears ago, the modern Shropshire bears no 
resemblance, save and except its natura! hardihoodr and its 
aptitude to adapt itself to all soils and climes Jg^el Meire 
which Messrs. Thomas Horton, George Adne> , barnuei Mene, 
w 0 Foster J & E. Crane, Mrs. Baker, Messrs. John Coxon, 
Mward Holland, Thomas Mansell, Thomas Horley, John 
i L Gomrison Bvrd Col. Dyott, Messrs. E. Thornton, and 
H J b Sheldon successfully exhibited at the Royal Shows of 
foro to 1865 were for the most part brown with speckled 
faces and speckled. 1 legs, fine in the bone and devoid of wool 
with bare bellies, and too often sickle hocked and crooked 
spines were the rule rather than the exception. The head of 
the male lacked masculine strength and character and came 
little or no wool on the poll, and the sheep generally stood on 
much longer legs than the modern Shropshire. Little attention 
" t this early date had been paid to the wool which was 
generally of a soft open character and greatly lacking that 
