72 ])orset Horn Sheep. 



(11H2) Messrs. G. A. & R. A. Kingswell's pen of Dorset Horn 

 lambs (cup winners), 310 days old, were 217 lb. in weight, and 

 made an average daily gain of 0*70 lb., a figure exceeded by 

 very few breeds. 



Weight and Prices op Wool. 



Dorset Horn wool is famous for its whiteness, its freedom 

 from kemp, and its superior quality. It is much sought after 

 by Welsh, Bradford, and Leicester buyers, and large sales by 

 auction are held at Dorchester in Juh', wdiich are attended by 

 purchasers from these and other centres. Most of the best wool 

 goes into Wales and Yorkshire, whilst Leicester buyers take the 

 bulk of the Horn lamb wool. At the sales in July last, Horn 

 fleeces made from 14|^. to l&\d. per lb., and Horn lamb from 

 l-i^d. to l&\d. Very little unwashed wool is shown, and the 

 breeders are very keen and careful about the get up of their 

 clips. Doubtless this accounts for the keen competition, 

 for it is generally remarked by the buyers that the get up of 

 the Dorset Horn w^ools is far in advance of those with w^hich 

 they deal in other counties. Shearing takes place about the 

 middle of June, and both the lambs and the ewes are shorn. 

 The lambs cut from 2| to 3 lb. at six months old ; the ewes 

 5 to 7 lb., and the shearling rams from 10 to l-l lb. 



Crossing. 



The Dorset Horn Sheep has been crossed with the South- 

 down and Hampshire Down. For early lamb rearing the best 

 cross is with a Southdown ram, as although the lambs may be 

 a little smaller they are of better quality, whilst they fatten 

 quicker, weigh better, and have shorter jackets than with other 

 Down crosses. Dorset Horn rams have also been used on 

 Hampshire Down and Devon Longwool ewes with great 

 success. 



The number of sheep registered in the Dorset Horn Flock 

 Book for the year 1912, is ewes, 52,950 ; ewe tegs, 23,009 ; 

 rams, 941. 



There are two Societies in America, viz. : The Dorset Horn 

 Sheep Breeders' Association of America, and the Continental 

 Dorset Club. The former was established in 1891, and the 

 latter in 1897, and there are upwards of 13,000 animals recorded 

 in their books. The breed was first imported into America in 

 1887 by Mr. A. Thayer of New York, and Mr. E. F. Buwditch 

 of Massachusetts ; and Mr. T. S. Cooper, of Pennsylvania, the 

 Secretary of the American Dorset Horn Sheep Breeders' Associa- 

 tion, made a large importation in 1889. Canada was, however, 

 in the field a little earlier than the United States, the breed 

 being imported into Ontario in 1885. 



