THE DORSET HORN 



409 



Somersets," which fattened to greater weight and had larger 

 lambs than the sheep of Dorsetshire. Low further comments on 

 the encroachment of the Southdown and Leicester on the 

 Dorset territory, stating that pure-bred flocks were becoming 

 scarce, owing to the crossing of these breeds. In fact, he stated 

 that the breed was gradually diminishing and was in danger of 

 being extinguished. In 1856 Professor Wilson, another British 

 authority, writes that " the practice of crossing with the South- 

 down is becoming very general." In this same connection Youatt, 

 in 1837, comments on the use of Devonshire Knots and Leices- 

 ters on Dorsets, but says the cross was not successful. However, 



FIG. 189. Dorset rams owned by J. L. Henderson & Son, of Pennsylvania. 

 Photograph from the National Stockman and Farmer 



some flocks were apparently kept free from crossing, notably on 

 the isle of Portland, where about 4000 sheep of a small Dorset 

 type existed in 1840. The general improvement of the breed as 

 a whole was secured by selection on the part of various breeders 

 in the western part of Dorset, but especially by Richard Seymour 

 of Bradpole, who between 1830 and 1840 perhaps had the best 

 flock extant. Among some of the other early prominent breeders 

 were Matthew Paul, John Pope, John Pitfield, the Messrs. Davy, 

 William Way, and Thomas Chick. Between 1860 and 1885 the 

 breed was much improved by Henry Mayo of Coker's Frome. 



The introduction of the Dorset to America is very recent, being 

 the last of the well-known breeds brought from England to this 

 country. The first Dorsets shown in the United States were 



