Page:The Victoria History of the County of Lincoln Volume 2.pdf/451

Rh inventing a new gate, sketching a plan for new farm buildings, or designing a cottage, he would be giving evidence before the Privy Council or a Special Commission, or discussing finance or the prize-sheet at the Smithfield Club, Hanover Square. At making an after-dinner speech he was particularly happy. Everything at Aylesby had to be pure-bred—the Shorthorns, the Leicester sheep (at the dispersal sale after his death the ewes averaged close on 5 guineas and the rams £17 7s. 6d.), the game fowls, which were black-breasted reds, and even the cats, which were all black. At Riby and Irby Dales he kept Captain Barclay's breed of Dorkings, Rouen ducks at Rothwell and Riby, while black Buenos Ayres ducks were found at Irby Dales. His Leicester sheep were in great demand, and besides an extensive home trade a great number were exported to Australia, California, Jamaica, and St. Helena.

Lincolnshire possesses a distinct breed of sheep just as it possesses a distinct breed of cattle, and there is probably 'more money in it' to-day than in any other European breed. The Lincoln sheep has been in existence and recognized as the established breed of the county for nigh on two hundred years, and it has been found to be the best adapted for the country and climate. It is hardy and thrifty, being folded on turnips during the winter months; comes to early maturity and shows a great aptitude to fatten; and it clips an enormous weight of wool. A few years ago it was found to be the best to cross with the Merino, and in consequence there sprung up such a trade with South America, and such extraordinary prices were given, as cannot be found in the history of any other breed of sheep. But they came down with a run on the closing of the Argentine ports owing to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in England, and they have never reached such a height since, though they are decidedly remunerative, as subsequent figures will show. The wool of the Lincoln sheep is very long and lustrous, with a broad staple, and the carcase a very heavy one. It is recorded in the Farmers' Magazine that in 1826 a three-shear Lincoln wether weighed 380 lb., a two-shear 364 lb., and a shearling 284 lb. dead weight, while in 1888 three ewes weighed 1,120 lb. at the Smithfield Show. Since those days a lot of superfluous fat has been done away with; and, as a comparison, it might be mentioned that the lambs under a year old, shown by Mr. Henry Dudding, Riby Grove, at the Smithfield Show in 1904, weighed 2261b., live weight, and the shearling wethers 354 lb., the highest respective weights in the show. In 1866, at the annual April Fair at Lincoln, 220 wether hogs (as they are called in the intermediate stage between the time they run with their dams and the time for clipping), sold in one lot by the breeder, made £5 each. High prices have always been realized at the annual sales and lettings in the past, and when a trade opened with South America, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, figures were reached of quite a sensational nature. Twice in three years, at Mr. Henry Dudding's auction sales at Riby, a shearling ram was knocked down at 1,000 guineas, the destination of the animal in each case being the Argentine. The Flock Book was started in 1892, there then being fifty-three registered flocks and fifty