116 ON THE CHEVIOT BKEED OF SHEEP. 



necessary to distinguish between the styles that are found in 

 three great divisions of country. First, there is what is called 

 the west-country system, which is followed in Selkirkshire, the 

 western part of Eoxburghshire, Peeblesshire, Dumfriesslure, and 

 Kirkcudbright ; then the east border system, which prevails in 

 the eastern part of Eoxburghsliire and Northumberland; and, 

 thirdly, the north-country practice, wliich extends over the 

 counties of Sutherland, Caithness, Eoss, Inverness, and Argyle. 

 In respect of its popularity as well as of its own excellence, the 

 west-country management, wliich has now supplanted the east 

 border practice over a large stretch of country, claims precedence. 



In indicating the routine of events on the farm, the most 

 suitable time at which to make a start is perhaps about the 

 middle of October, after the draft ewes have been sent away, and • 

 the flock adjusted to the number which the holding is capable of 

 keeping. Throughout what has been termed the west country, 

 it should, however, be first stated, the stocks range in numbers 

 from 60 to 100 score, reaching in a few instances as high a total 

 as between 3000 and 4000 ; and the rent, which has risen 2s. or 

 OS. per head within the last ten years, is generally from 10s. to 

 12s. per head, though in some cases even more than the latter 

 figure is paid. 



In the treatment of his sheep the first principle acted upon 

 by the farmer is, that all ages shall graze together. As in this 

 particular his east border neighbour cUfters from him, the west- 

 countryman has a right to have it stated for him that his practice 

 has received the commendation of so liigh an authority as Little. 

 This well-known writer, in liis work on "Mountain Sheep," 

 points out with great clearness what occurred to him as the 

 advantages of tliis system : — " Wlien the ewes and gimmers and 

 the hoggs go at large on the same pasture," he writes, " the land 

 is more equally pastured ; there is no trouble or danger in sliift- 

 ing ; the hoggs, in time of storm, are better led in search of food 

 along with the old sheep than by themselves ; being continued 

 in the place where they were lambed, they are not so apt to 

 stray from the farm ; and the shepherds are not at so great a 

 loss in looking over the hill or sheep walk in storms." 



Passing from this, the first part of the year's work to be 

 noticed is the dipping. This operation the majority of farmers 

 ]jrefer to see carried through about the end of October ; some, on 

 the other hand, delay the work till the month of January or 

 February ; and this practice, though it is not as yet the most 

 extensively adopted, is perhaps the most judicious, seeing that 

 the sheep can be freed from vermin much better at this later 

 period than they can possibly be in October, when, in fact, 

 very few of these pests are developed. To the late dipping 

 the only objection that can be urged is the difficulty of falling 



