CHAP. I. SUFFOLK SHEEP. 497 



of the kingdom. The breed is famous for fecundity, and the ewes for 

 excellent nursing, and for taking the ram at the desired period of the 

 year for enabling them to produce very early lambs. 



The interests of the breed are looked after by the Dorset Horn Sheep- 

 breeders' Association, which was constituted in 1891. 



THE SUFFOLK breed (fig. 128) has of late years risen into considerable 

 repute in its own county, and to some extent in the adjoining counties 

 of Cambridge and Essex. The establishment of a Flock-Book and 



Photo by Q. H. Parsons. 



Fig. 127. Dorset Horned Ram. 



First at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show, 1907. 

 The property of Mr. E. A. Hambro, Hayes Place, Kent. 



tne admission of the breed to the distinction of separate classes at the 

 Shows of the Royal Agricultural Society of England have done much to 

 bring the sheep into general notice. 



Early in the present century, according to Mr. Ernest Prentice in 

 the Suffolk Flock-Book, a breed of Suffolk sheep existed which had 

 been founded by crossing the original horned Norfolk ewes with 

 improved Southdown rams. 



The mingling of the form and fattening properties of the Southdown 

 with the hardy Norfolk resulted in a valuable type of animal. In 

 the progeny the purer blood of the Norfolks asserted itself in the 

 characteristic black faces and legs ; and the objectionable feature the 

 horns was eliminated by selection in the course of a few years. 



It was in 1859 that the name of " Suffolks " was first given to 

 these Southdown-Norfolks. The characteristics of the sheep may be 

 gathered from the following list of points drawn up by the Suffolk 

 Sheep Society : 



K K 



