THE BOKDEH LEICESTEE BREED OF SHEEP. 267 



for the use of three rains, two tliousand guineas for seven others., 

 and three thousand guineas by the Dishley Society, which had 

 by this time been formed, for the rest of the stock. The most 

 remarkable success was that of a favourite ram called " Two 

 Pounder," for the use of which Mr Bakewell one year received 

 eight hundred guineas from two breeders, while he reserved one 

 third of the animal's services for his own ewes. In addition to 

 this hiring of rams, ewes were received at Dishley to be put to 

 particular sires, at charges ranging from ten to sixty guineas per 

 score. Some six or seven years before his death, which took 

 place in 1795, Bakew"ell formed a small association of breeders, 

 which was called the Dishley Society. In the institution of this 

 Society, which consisted of twelve members, who paid an 

 entrance fee of ten guineas, and were pledged to secrecy, the 

 founder has generally been supposed to have had some selfish 

 motive. It is, however, difficult to see how a man, wnth the 

 reputation wliicli Bakewell had gained, could be in any way 

 benefited by associating himself with other breeders in the 

 neighbourhood. The reasonable supposition, therefore, seems to 

 be that he was more anxious to see his new breed firmly estab- 

 lished than for any additional personal gain; and that he 

 intended the Society as a set off against that which the Lincoln- 

 shire breeders had already organised for the purpose of fostering 

 their type of sheep. The rules of the Dishley Society were 

 rather curious iu their character, and as they have not been 

 often seen in print, it may not be out of place here to quote 

 some of the ]H'incipal of them: — 



'■ 1. No mendjer shall hire or use a ram not belonL(in<::j either 



to ]\lr Bakewell or to one of the members of the 



Society. 

 " 2. Xo niendjer shall give his rams, at any season of tlie year, 



any other food than green vegetables, hay, and 



straw. 

 " .*i Xo member shall let more than thirtv rams in anv one 



season. 

 "4. X'^o member shall let a ram for less tlian ten guineas to 



any ])erson, nor for less than forty guineas to any 



person who lets rams. 

 "5. Xo one ram shall be let to serve the flocks of more tlian 



two ])eisons. 

 " 6. X^^o member shall let a ram to any one who lets or sells his 



rams at fairs or markets. 

 " 7- Xo niend>er shall take in ewes to be served bv more than 



one ram, at his own residence, in any one season, unless 



they belong to members of the Society, nor to be served 



by any ram he uses for his own lloctk. with the same 



exception. 



