The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-08-21 00:00:00

HA GLEE.
ANNUAL SALE OF PURE SHROPSHIRE DOWN
RAMS AND EWES.

This great annual sale took place at Hagley, On Mon•
day last, sun l was well attended, most of the farmers and
breeders of the neighbourhood being present. Amongst
those present we noticed Messrs. W. (irazehrook (Park
Hall). U. Grazebrook, W. C. Firmstone, Masten. Horley.
Blakeway. Shutt, King, 'iron, Parry, Brown Brookfield),
Downino (Itowlev 11,gish Keep, Bate, Huband, Harrison,
Archer, Hickman, Seoger, Corhett, Drellielit. Pountney,
D üby, Heel:tort', Bourne (Stourton), Rev. Bourne
(Broom), H. Harris, Maud. &e., &e.

'l'he rams offered for sale were principally the property
of Mr. W. 0 Foster, Mr. W. C. Firmstone. and Mr.
John Harward (Winterfold Farm), were bred from " Old
Perfection," " Mainstay," " Pride, of Weston." " Young
Duke." and other cele .rated sires, and are descended
from the famous Kii.ver Hill and other flocks.
Previous to the sale shout 150 gentlemen sat down to
a first-rste luncheon, served up in his usual sumptuous
manner by the worthy host of the Lyttelton Arias loin,
Bagley. The chair was occupied by Mr. \V. C. Farm'
stone, and the vice-chair by Mr. Trow.
After the tables had been cleared. the Chairman said
he had been requested to occupy the position he now
held, he believed, undeservedly so. He should have liked
to have seen some one with more ability than himself in
his place. But, as he was there, he should have to reveal
two secrets which otherwise might have remained undis-
covered : the first was that he was a poor speaker, and
the second, that he was a small farmer with very little
experience. Putting theae considerations aside, he
should at once propose a toast, winch he was sure would
be heartily responded to by all those present for if
there was one class of the community more loyal than
another it was the farmers. Besides, the Queen had a
special claim on their sympathies, she being a great agri-
culturist. Without any further preface he should pro-
pose the '' Health of the Queen ;" which was heartily
reponded to.
The Chairman then proposed the " Shropshire
Breeders," coupling with the toast the name of Mr. Ham.
fen. Mr. Masfeu was a gentleman who had a great many
claims to their respect, being an extensive breeder of
Shropshire Downs, and one who by Ids ability sand perse-
verance had contributed as much. or more than any other
man, to bring that splendid breed of sheep into its pre-
sent state of perfection, and great repute. He was sore
they would all respond heartily to the aforesaid toast—
(cheers).

Mr. Masfen responded, and in the course of some very
sensible and practical remarks, observed there was one
great evil among farmers. which did not exist, at least, to
the same extent, amongst commercial men, and that was
want of unanimity. If there was more unanimity among
them they could meet together and state their grievances,
and have their wrongs redressed. He believed that the
source of this want of unanimity arose from the fart
that, having extensive farms, they were necessarily wide
apart, and, consequentiv, they could not meet without
losing a good deal of valuable time. and going to greet
expense ; while, on the other hand, if commercial man
wished to meet they had hot to go up or down some half
dozen streets, and in half an hour 150 of them could lie
assembled together. With reference to the breeding of
Shropshire Downs, he had bestowed a great deal of time
and labour upon it, and, he must say, with success. It
required more care, tact, and still to become a successful
breeder than most people were aware of. He was glad
to say that he took great pleasure in it, and the reason
that he did so was because it paid him—laughter, and
aoplaufte). He was confident that the Shropshire Downs
Would hold their own with any other breed in the king-
dom. What they wanted was a sheep that required less
food, and which would make more motto; than any
other; and iv thos,
DOWD war: unmet!, ii. lie euhearii,d my bovine that
Ulu-, gentlemen who had sent sheep there that ;lay would
riurarded f,,r tieir enterprise and spirit, by obtaining
liberal prices for the animals which would be put up for
emu oetition—floud applause).

Mr. Nfrisfen then prnpoawd the health of Mr. Trnw, RN
couiteetet with the agricultural interests of this neighs
bouritowsi ; which won tumultuously responded to.