78 
Suffolk  Sheep. 
cannot  be  obtained  from  the  same,  from  flocks  of  similar 
character.  Keep  such  lambs  thoroughly  well  until  the  follow- 
ing summer,  then  draft  the  least  desirable.  The  ones  to  be 
drafted  are  those  with  weak  wool,  badly  set-011  necks,  narrow 
or  drooping  rumps,  or  those  low  behind  the  shoulder.  Those 
standing  badly  on  their  legs  or  joints  should  most  certainly 
be  rejected.  Sheep  which  are  speckled  should  be  avoided — 
some  Suffolks  show  this  fault.  No  doubt  it  is  inherited  from 
their  past  projenitor  the  Norfolk,  so  it  should  be  guarded 
against.  It  consists  of  small  white  spots  at  the  base  of  the  ear, 
on  the  neck,  and  under  the  forearms. 
Having  done  the  drafting,  a uniform  lot  of  ewes  should  be 
left  to  start  breeding  with,  and  a good  start  is  half  the  battle. 
Another  and  a quicker  way,  if  it  can  be  managed,  is  to  buy 
the  best  draft  ewes  from  a really  first-class  flock.  This  practice, 
however,  is  much  less  easy  to  follow  out,  for  the  Suffolk  sheep 
breeders  of  repute,  in  contradistinction  to  the  customs  of  some 
flock-masters  in  other  localities,  keep  all  their  best  ewes  until 
they  become  “ crones  ” or  have  bad  teeth.  For  they  find  there 
is  nothing  like  sticking  to  their  good  old  sheep  for  breeding 
high-class  rams.  It  may  often  be  noticed  that  at  a dispersal 
sale  good  full-mouthed  ewes  will  command  <a  good  price, 
sometimes  as  high  as  any  in  the  sale. 
In  the  selection  of  the  rams  extreme  care  should  be  taken 
as  the  male  “ is  half  the  flock  ” and  he  often  has  more  than 
half  the  result  to  his  credit,  or  otherwise,  in  the  appearance 
of  the  progeny.  So  that  a beginner  is  well  advised  who 
decides  to  select  his  rams  from  long-established  flocks  of  high 
standing  and  good  reputation.  He  should  never  buy  a sire 
without  a most  thorough  and  close  inspection,  the  sheep  should 
be  overhauled  thoroughly  and  his  credentials  examined  in 
detail  both  as  to  formation  and  pedigree. 
Line-breeding. — Harm  is  often  done  through  not  paying 
enough  attention  to  this  consideration.  Mixing  up  a lot  of 
differently  bred  strains  indiscriminately  never  tends  to  form 
distinct  and  correct  type.  The  use  of  a sire  so  bred  is  never 
effectual  but  for  harm.  Careful  in-breeding,  with  judicious 
selection  for  constitution  and  stamina , is  the  fundamental 
practice  of  the  successful  breeder. 
S.  R.  Sherwood. 
Playford,  Ipswich. 
