Articue XXXI.—Being an Account of a successful Claim of the Society's Premium, for a supertor Flock of Saeep, by Wittram Dyke, Esq.

Ar the General Meeting in September, 1803, was read the following report of a Committee appointed to survey Mr. Dyke’s flock of Sheep, under Prem. 15, Class 3,** for the

greatest number and most profitable sort 9 sheep.”

Syrencot, June 15, 1803.

It appears to the Committee, that the farm on which the sheep are fed consists of about two hundred and thirty acres of arable; and that they are generally fed on about forty acres of new field, and about forty acres of old field, together with fourteen acres of water meadow, and twenty- four of pasture; on the two latter from the beginning of March to the latter end of April on/y.

The race or breed of sheep formerly fed on this farm was Wiltshire, namely, till the year 1791; from which time the South-Down breed was substituted, and continued to the present date.

Mr. Dyke, considering that the introduction of these sheep would be an advantage to the country, was the first Wiltshire gentleman who actually introduced the breed.

It also appears, that of the Wiltshire breed Mr. Dyke supported on his farm from three hundred and twenty to three hundred and sixty breeding ewes, producing about three hundred lambs. That of the South Down or present

flock, the numbers now are four hundred and sixty breeding ewes, which have produced four hundred and thirty lambs.

The lambs of the latter, as well as the turned-off ewes, produced at the markets from 2s. to 3s. per head each more than the Wiltshire.

It farther appears to us, that in supporting the Wiltshire

sheep, the entire produce of the farm hath been constantly

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