398 THE SHEEP OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



many years lie was accustomed to make almost a clear sweep of 

 the prizes in the showyards for Dorset sheep. Mr. Abraham 

 Bond, who entered into his labours, said of him : " Mr. Danger, 

 my predecessor, mac;e rapidity in flesh formation almost his 

 only study, and to this is to be attributed his success." Mr. 

 Danger's superior tactics have, however, been so very generally 

 imitated that the defect, once so noticeable, of the young wethers 

 being slow in grazing for the butchers, has quite disappeared. 

 Similar testimony by Mr. H. Mayo, of Coker's Farm, Dorchester, 

 was given about the same time, then not only one of the best 

 breeders, but one of the principal prize takers of Dorset sheep. 

 About ten years since he gave this testimony : " The grazing 

 qualities of the sheep are greatly improved, and it is a general 

 thing all through the country. I think success has been 

 attained to such an extent that some of the best bred Dorset 

 lambs arrive at maturity and put on flesh as fast as the Downs. 

 The breed has altogether received wonderful development of 

 late years, and I think the ewes breed more lambs than ever 

 they did." 



That an improved form and greater aptitude to fatten have 

 been imparted to Dorset sheep in recent years is unquestionable. 

 Wether lambs and tegs used, within memory of the present race 

 of farmers, to sell at low prices compared to those of other breeds, 

 purely because of their indisposition to fatten until the second 

 year. But the defect has now been sufficiently removed to 

 advance very materially the current rates of this class in the 

 markets and fairs. How this great change has been effected 

 must perhaps remain a disputed matter. The union with the 

 Somersets took place nearly if not quite a century ago, and all 

 the Dorsets obtained from the alliance was increased size and 

 whiter faces. The two varieties have been so long and so closely 

 amalgamated that they are justly considered at the present 

 period one and the same. The Somerset breeders are now even 

 more particular than their Dorset brethren to develope short- 

 legged, compact sheep, quite the antipodes of the lanky 

 Somersets of a past period. How, then, has the modern 

 improvement in form and materially enhanced aptitude to fatten 

 been accomplished in such brief space of time ? The breeders 

 reply by careful and judicious selections, in the first instance by 



