240 THE STUDY OF BREEDS. 



II. Adaptability. 



(1) The Suffolks are well adapted to farms with some 

 good arable land, and a considerable range of pastures, not 

 over luxuriant. 



(2) Their active habits and hardihood make them good 

 rustlers. 



(3) The average weight of rams in good thrift is about 

 230 pounds and of ewes 185 pounds. 



III. Early maturing qualities. 



(1) The strong infusion of Southdown blood has given 

 the Suffolks good maturing qualities, and 



(2) The good nursing qualities of the dams favor the 

 same in a marked degree in the lambs. 



IV. Grazing qualities. 



(1) The Suffolks are capital grazers, but they want undu- 

 lating rather than violently hilly land. 



(2) They should graze well on ranges not mountainous 

 in character. 



V. Feeding qualities. 



(1) They feed fairly well. 



(2) Their inclination to ranginess in form is somewhat 

 against highest feeding qualities. 



VI. Quality of the meat. 



(1) In 1797, Arthur Young describes the mutton as hav- 

 ing no superior in texture, grain or flavor. 



(2) These fine qualities are retained, and there have been 

 added to them juiciness and a greatly increased proportion of 

 meat with fat and lean intermixed. 



VII. Value in crossing and grading. 



(1) They have proved themselves very valuable for cross- 

 ing upon the Merino grades of South America, and they 

 should be specially valuable for this purpose on ranges of 

 moderate elevation. 



(2) They cross particularly well on grades of the blocky 

 type. 



VIII. Breeding qualities. 



(1) These are exceptionally good, hence in this respect 

 they are not far behind the Dorsets, and 



(2) The dams make exceptionally good nurses. 



