288 Norfolk Farming, 



trials, give it up. Much depends upon tlie quality of cake 

 purchased, for some is so gritty and bitter that the cattle 

 refuse it. 



The old Norfolk sheep are almost extinct. A iew may still 

 be seen in some parks of the county, where they are kept after . 

 the manner of deer, and not killed till they are four years old. 

 Perhaps in a little time specimens of the Norfolk ram, with his 

 long black face and great curling horns, will only be found in 

 the Zoological Gardens or some travelling menagerie. But 

 though the pure-bred Norfolk is never seen, traces of the old 

 blood are to be found in more than half the flocks of the 

 county. The cjualities of the breed which are perpetuated are 

 not to be despised. They impart a great frame, hardihood, 

 strength of constitution, and wonderful milking properties to the 

 ewes of the flock. But few of these black-faced ewes are bred 

 in the county. They come principally from Suffolk, being 

 purchased by the Norfolk men as hoggets or shearlings. The 

 style of ewe now bred is a very much better animal than it was 

 in 1843. By a judicious admixture of Down blood, earlier 

 maturity, more wool, and better-shaped sheep have been pro- 

 duced ; the credit is not due to Norfolk, but belongs chiefly to 

 our southern neighbours. Some flocks of Hampshire and South 

 Down sheep are kept, but not many of these ewes are bred in 

 the county, being imported from the Sussex and Hampshire 

 fairs, generally as full-mouthed sheep. A few Shropshire 

 Downs have recently come much into notice. One flock in 

 particular produces some extraordinary sheep. These are bred 

 from Cotswold sires, and 400 of them, when under 15 months 

 old, were sold last year in London at from 665. to 75s. each, and 

 their fleeces averaged as much as 10^ lbs. This season, the shear- 

 lings of the same flock are in splendid order, competent judges 

 computing their average weight at upwards of 25 lbs. a quarter. 

 Almost all the sheep reared in Norfolk are half-breds. The 

 ewe flocks have been described, and the rams 'used are princi- 

 pally long-wools ; some of the most useful having a mixture of 

 Leicester and Cotswold blood. Formerly pure Leicesters were 

 much used, but South Down and Leicester blood produce too 

 small a frame, though the sheep fatten readily. Some half- 

 dozen men in the county breed a great many long-woolled rams, 

 and let or sell them at their annual auctions. The sheep at West 

 Dereham, Westacre, Marham, and Hempton are largely and most 

 deservedly patronised. Shearling rams let at from 5/. to 10/., some 

 few much higher ; but where farmers want rams only for cross- 

 bred lambs, nicety of blood or perfection of make is not so re- 

 quisite as when they rear pure-bred animals. The majority, 

 therefore, do not feel inclined to give more than 10/. for the very 



