THE SUFFOLK 611 



The Victoria government recently included Suffolks in their well-conducted 

 experiments to ascertain the comparative mutton value of various crosses. 

 Lincoln, Border Leicester, Dorset Horn, Shropshire, Southdown, and Suffolk 

 rams were mated with selected first cross Lincoln-Merino ewes, with the result 

 that, in the first year, the Suffolk-cross lambs topped the market, were first in 

 maximum weight of carcass, first in minimum weight, first in average weight, 

 showed the least per cent of offal loss, and in value of the fleece were beaten 

 only by the Lincoln cross. At fourteen to fifteen weeks the Suffolk-cross lambs 

 were as heavy as the heaviest of the other crosses at seventeen weeks. At the 

 last Canterbury show (the largest in New Zealand) an exhibit of Suffolk-cross 

 wethers marked the first appearance of this cross on the show ground by win- 

 ning the special prize offered by the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company for 

 the best freezers. 



The fecundity of Suffolk ewes is advocated as a valuable point 

 in behalf of the breed. Twins are common and triplets not un- 

 common. In the spring of 1891, 32 ewes of Mr. Sewell raised 

 58 lambs, while the same year 5 imported ewes of Mr. Streeter 

 produced 1 1 lambs, and in 1892 the same ewes produced 14 lambs. 

 According to returns made to the Suffolk Flock Book Society of 

 England, the number of lambs reared to June I, 1903, was 140.66 

 per cent per 100 ewes as compared with 135.49 in 1915 and an 

 average of 133.87 per cent for the previous twenty-eight years. 

 The ewes have large udders, produce an abundance of milk, and 

 are rated as excellent nurses. 



The Suffolk as a producer of wool does not rank high. The 

 fleeces are somewhat light, and the staple is of but moderate 

 length, though fine and soft, and grades low three-eighths or 

 quarter-blood combing. The Suffolk Society standard gives the 

 fleece as of medium grade and specifies that it should be of even 

 quality, present a smooth surface, and extend over the belly and 

 well down on the legs. A fleece of nine pounds has been reported 

 by some, but this no doubt would be a heavy average. 



Prices for Suffolk sheep in England have not been excessive. 

 In 1916, at the Suffolk Sheep Society's Special Sale at Ipswich, 

 1439 yearling ewes averaged about $32 each. One ram was sold 

 to go to Scotland for $700. The average price of 408 rams was 

 $68. At the three principal lamb sales 5629 ewes averaged $16 

 per head. In the 1918 sales 5326 ewe lambs from registered 

 flocks averaged $17.50 each and 2077 yearling ewes averaged 

 $40 each. The top price per head for a pen of 10 yearling ewes 



