On the Cheviot Sheep.
This is a valuable breed, carrying on their backs wool of fine quality, which always bears a high price in the market, and therefore forms an object of great impor tance to the breeder. Perhaps a small mixture of the Dishley blood with the original Cheviot sheep is of material advantage to that breed, not in respect of wool, which certainly is not ameliorated, but merely because the size, shape, and disposition of the animal, would thus be greatly improved. The Cheviot sheep have a great affinity with the Southdown breed ; and we are much inclined to think that both originally descended from the same parents. By covering them with a Dish ley tup, the deficiency in the fore-quarters of each would be amended, though we do not say that the quality of the wool would be improved. The farmer in managing this breed, must therefore be guided by the relative advantages of wool and carcass. if the first prepon derates, then no cross should be resorted to which would lessen the value of the fleece ; and if the other, then the shape, size, and disposition of the carcass to fatten, will necessarily claim a priority of attention. In the present state of British markets, meat is an object of greater consideration than wool ; every farmer's at tention ought, therefore, to be directed more to the improvement of carcass than to the fleece with which it is covered.
On the Heath, or Mountain Sheep.
This is a hardy breed, having spiral horns, black faces, black legs, eyes, and short firm car casses. The sheep of this breed are covered with coarse shaggy wool, and are exceedingly active, and well adap ted to the mountainous districts in which they are reared. They are seldom fed till three years of age, generally when they are four, but sometimes kept till they arc five, at which time they feed well, and afford mutton of the richest flavour. This hardy tribe is first met with in the north-west of Yorkshire, and are, in a great mea sure, in possession of the hills in the northern parts of Scotland. Perhaps there may be different varieties of this breed, particularly in Galloway and Ayrshire, owing to crosses with the Cheviot sheep ; but none are better calculated to thrive in the mountain districts than the original heath sheep ; because none are so constitu tionally disposed to encounter the hardships which must be undergone in such situations. Their wool is
certainly of small value, but might be improved by crosses with other breeds ; though there is a consider able danger that what was gained on the fleece might be lost upon the carcass.
Having now detailed the properties of the chief breeds of sheep kept in the island, it remains to notice the management exercised with these animals, whether considered as breeders or feeders. The object is, in every case, to prepare them for the butcher ; though this object is obtained in vai ions way 5, and at ver diherent periods.
In the upland, or 1)12C d Ing districts, sheep are posed of at various ages, and for purposes. A draught of ewes is annually made for the lowland feed ers, who, after taking a lamb and selling it to the butcher, feed the dams, and dispose of them in like manner. A draught of wether sheep is also annually made to the lowland farmers, and these are fed either upon grass or turnips, according to the season in w Lich they are purchased. lt.is generally belies cd, that ewes and lambs are the most profitable stock in the lowland districts, because the profits of feeder and breeder arc thus combined. This branch of stock is usually pur chased at the end of autumn, wintered on the stubble's and aftermath, and receives a few turnips in the spring previously to the period of lambing. Afterwards, the ewe and lamb are fed upon early grass; and often in this way both are ready for the butcher at the same time ; though, in general cases, a month or two more is re quired to prepare the dam for market after the lamb is removed. In this case the fleece is obtained, which the breed is of a suitable kind, is an important matter to the farmer. Lambs in this way are prepared for the market from Candlemas to Lammas ; though it may be remarked, that those sold about the term of Whitsun day generally yield more profit than what is gained at an earlier period. The price per pound weight is then certainly reduced ; but taking it according to carcass weight, and the expense of feeding-, the profit Will be found of equal advantage to the feeder as if the animal had been marketed earlier in the season.