j6 THE SUFFOLK. 



Cbe Suffolk, 



This is one of the few remaining breeds of Down sheep 

 which grazed on the chalk hills of England, from Norfolk and 

 Suffolk to Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Bucks, Berks, Wilts 

 and Devonshires, all of which counties possess an underlying 

 chalk formation. The origin of this breed were the old Nor- 

 folks, of which mention is made by Arthur Young in 1797, who 

 states that '' their mutton for the table was superior in grain, 

 flavor, quality and color of gravy." The first improvement was 

 made by crossing improved Southdown rams. This, however, 

 was supposedly prior to 1850, since which time it is claimed they 

 have been bred pure, without any. outside admixture of blood. 



The Suffolk Sheep Society of England lay down the follow- 

 ing points as necessary attributes of this breed: 



Head hornless; face black and long; muzzle reasonably fine, 

 especially in ewes (a small quantity of clear white wool on the 

 forehead not objected to); ears medium length, black and of fine 

 texture; eyes bright and full; neck moderately long and well set; 

 shoulder broad and oblique; chest deep and wide; back and loin 

 long, level and well covered; tail broad and well set up; ribs 

 long and well sprung, with a full flank; legs and feet straight and 

 black, with fine and flat bone; wooled to knees and hocks, clean 

 below; fore legs set well apart; hind legs well filled with mutton; 

 belly well covered with wool; fleece moderately short, close, fine 

 fibre, without tendency to mat or felt together, and not shading 

 off into dark wool or hair; the skin fine, soft and pink. The 

 first importation of Siiffolk sheep to the United States was in 

 1888, made by Mr. M. B. Streeter of Brooklyn, ]S^. Y., the first 

 President of the American Suffolk Flock Eegistry Association. 

 In 1890 the Iowa Suffolk Sheep Company of Atlantic, Iowa, im- 

 ported quite a number, subsequent importations both in this 

 covmtry and Canada following fast, till at the present writing 



