THE SUFFOLK 613 



classes were provided for them at the Suffolk Agricultural 

 Association's meeting. Among early breeders, George 

 Dobito, of Lidgate, Suffolk, took the leading part in 

 establishing the Suffolk as a distinct breed soon after 1850. 

 Other noted ram-breeders were J. Walker, of Loudham Hall, 

 Suffolk (1830); J. M. Green, of Stradishall, Suffolk (1850); 

 Peter Portway, of Sampford, Essex (1850) ; George Kent, of 

 Gazeley, Suffolk (1860); and General Hall, of Six Mile 

 Bottom, Cambridge (1850). The breed is mentioned in The 

 General View of the Agriculture of Suffolk as far back as 1 797. 

 Some pure-bred flocks of the present day date back to 1790, 

 which throws light upon the fact that recent attempts at the 

 importation of foreign blood into the breed have not proved 

 successful. Those in the eastern districts partake strongly of 

 the old Norfolk characteristics, viz., dark face, light bone, and 

 active habits. Those to the west are, as a rule, kept on 

 better land ; they have lighter faces and greater aptitude to 

 fatten, and grow to greater weights. 



The Suffolk breed was not recognised as of sufficient im- 

 portance to form a class at the Royal Agricultural Society's 

 shows until 1886. Since that time it has made rapid 

 progress. 



The Suffolk Sheep Society was established in the same 

 year, " for the purpose of promoting the purity of the breed, 

 and providing a reliable guarantee to buyers by maintaining 

 a register of pure-bred sires." " Under the certificate of the 

 Board of Trade, dated I7th July 1891, the Society's mark a 

 lozenge, with or without a letter * s/ supported by two 

 shepherd's crooks crossed was duly registered, and by order 

 of the Council, c sheep lambed subsequently to 1890 will not be 

 registered as pure-bred Suffolk sheep unless they bear the 

 registered mark of the Society and the breeder's registered 

 flock number tattooed inside the left ear' A subsequent order 

 provides that rams shall bear their individual registered number 

 tattooed inside the right ear." Flocks are inspected prior to 

 registration, and re-inspected every fourth year. 



The following are the distinguishing points of the breed 

 adopted by the Society : Head, hornless ; face black and long, 

 and muzzle moderately fine especially in ewes (a small 

 quantity of clean, white wool on the forehead not objected to). 

 Ears, a medium length, black, and of fine texture. Eyes, bright 



