192 THE SHEEP. 



form, which experience shews to be connected with the power 

 of secreting fat, and arriving at early maturity, or what may 

 be termed premature age. The system, acted upon for suc- 

 cessive generations, tended likewise to render the animals 

 more the creatures of an artificial condition, more delicate in 

 temperament as well as in form, less prolific of lambs, and 

 less capable of supplying milk to their offspring. It cannot 

 be supposed that Bakewell was unobservant of these effects ; 

 but he appears to have regarded them as being of a con- 

 sideration secondary to the property of producing, in the 

 shortest time, the largest quantity of fat, with the least con- 

 sumption of herbage and other food. That this was the 

 main result at which he aimed, all his practice shews ; and 

 his success corresponded with the skill and perseverance 

 with which he applied his principles to practice. His stock 

 became gradually known and appreciated in the country 

 around him ; but it was not until after the lapse of nearly a 

 quarter of a century, that it arrived at that general estima- 

 tion in which it was afterwards held. He early conceived the 

 idea of letting his rams for the season, in place of selling 

 them. The plan was ridiculed and opposed in every way, 

 and it was not until after the labour of many years, that he 

 succeeded in establishing it as a regular system. It is said 

 that his rams were first let, in 1760, at 17s. 6d. each ; but this 

 was certainly before his breed had arrived at its ultimate 

 perfection. His usual price afterwards became a guinea, 

 and, in rarer cases, two or three ; but the price rapidly ad- 

 vanced with the increasing reputation of his stock. In 

 1784-5, the price had risen to about 100 guineas for his best 

 rams. In 1786, he made about 1000 guineas by the letting 

 of his stock ; and in 1789, he made 1200 guineas by three 

 rams, and 2000 guineas by seven ; and in the same year, he made 

 3000 guineas more by letting the remainder of his rams to the 

 Dishley Society, then instituted. These facts deserve to be re- 

 corded, as manifesting the high estimation in which the breed 

 of Bakewell was held as soon as its properties became known. 



2 



