68 MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



widely known as 'Black-faces' and, in 1859, were christened 'Suf- 

 folks/ They are black-faced and hornless, with clean black legs, 

 closely resembling the Southdown in character and wool, but about 

 30 per cent, larger and proportionately longer on the leg. They 

 excel in the following points : 



"FECUNDITY. Thirty lambs reared per score of ewes is a fre- 

 quent average. The returns made annually since 1887 by owners 

 of registered Suffolk flocks show the number of lambs reared to 

 June 1st, in each year to average 132.25 per hundred ewes. 



"EARLY MATURITY. If well grazed they are fit for the butcher 

 at nine to twelve months old, and the ram lambs are so forward at 

 seven to eight months that 19 breeders out of 20 use them in 

 preference to older sheep. 



"HARDIHOOD. They will get a living and thrive where other 

 breeds would starve. 



"MUTTON. The quality is super-excellent, with an exception- 

 ally large proportion of lean meat, and commands a ready sale 

 at top prices. 



"CONSTITUTION. Eobust, hardy, great power of endurance, 

 and comparative freedom from attacks of 'foot-rot/ 



"In South America and other countries, crossing with Suffolk 

 rams has proved particularly well adapted for improving the mut- 

 ton quality of the native-bred Merinos. 



"An interesting experiment was carried out in 1894-96 

 by the Colonial College, at Hollesley Bay, a few aged Merino ewes 

 being mated to a Suffolk ram. The resulting average produce was 

 fully a lamb and a half per ewe, and slaughtered at 15 months, 

 live weight of 94 pounds, and a 'dressed carcass' of 54 pounds, or 

 60.64 per cent, washed fleece weighing 6.65 pounds, with good 

 length of staple, and wool of fine texture. The flesh was of ex- 

 cellent quality, fine in grain and of good flavor, with a large pro- 

 portion of lean meat. Their active movements, good carriage, 

 high courage, and intelligent heads, give ample evidence of breed- 

 ing, stamina and constitution; while the deep, roomy frame of the 

 ewes shows the possession of one of the most essential qualifications 

 for prolific breeding flocks." 



THE DORSET DOWN. 



This is a breed of sheep which has been little heard of in this 

 country ; in fact, it is not generally well-known in its native coun- 

 try. As its name suggests, it is a breed peculiar to the county of 

 Dorsetshire in England. The formation of the Dorset Down 

 Sheep Society in the fall of 1904 caused no little interest to be 

 aroused in this breed of sheep. Without doubt it is worthy of the 

 notice of sheep fanciers in almost every country, as its various 

 characteristics denote it to be a sheep of great value from a mutton 



