BREEDS, CROSSES, &C. 467 



well. Sheep the chief stock, though some Lincoln bul- 

 locks. He never gives hay to sheep ; nothing but grass; 

 32 lb. a quarter, his average of fat wethers. 



Mr. SwAYNE, of Walpole, prefers the cross between 

 Lincoln and Leicester.: he buys them shearling wethers, 

 about Lady-day ; last year 3I. to 3I. los. each, but has 

 had them at 36s. and 38s. He clips the best twice ; three 

 to a tod, which he likes better than heavier fleeces of sheep 

 demanding more food. Some give 17 or 18 lb. of wool. 

 At Michaelmas he culls the worst, or buys cole for them, 

 if reasonable: sells all by Midsummer, making 8s. or los. 

 a head, when bought in high, besides the wool. Very 

 few beasts. 



I have heard it made a question, who first introduced 

 South Down sheep in Norfolk? When once an im- 

 provement has spread so much as to become an obje6l of 

 importance, there are generally many claimants for the 

 merit; and if such claimants are only heard of many 

 years after, but little attention is due to them. With re- 

 gard to the neighbouring county of Suffolk, I can speak 

 with some accuracy, but should not mention it on this oc- 

 casion, were not the hCc conne6ied with the introdu61ion 

 into Norfolk. In May, T7S5, I published an account of 

 an observation* I made in 17S4, the year I brought them 

 into Suffolk from Sussex ; and being printed at the time, 

 ilie fa6t will admit no doubt. I recommended them strong- 



'* It was this: a South Down ram I had got from Sussex, broke, by acci- 

 dent, t9 a little flock ot Norfolk ewes, belsriging to a tenant, the efie<it of 

 ■which was, his having seven or eight lambs entirely different from all the 

 rest. His lambs were drawn tat by the butcher early ia the summer, who, 

 wl)en he came first to m.ike choice, drew every one of South Down breed 

 b«forc lie took a single Norfolk, declaring, at the same time, that they were 

 by muclith<i fattest in the flock. The farmer applied to me immediate'.y to 

 tjive him a urn lamb. 



H h 2 ly 



