126 ox THE CHEVIOT BREED OF SHEEP. 



discharoin<TP a thin fcetid matter. The best treatment is the oare- 

 ful removal of all loose horn, and the dressing of the raw surface 

 with a mixture of carbolic acid and oil, or a solution of terchloride 

 of iron, which has a hardening effect upon the hoof. Prevention, 

 however, it need hardly be said, is better than cure, and it has 

 been practically proved that the driving of the sheep through 

 troughs containing a solution of arsenic dissolved with potash, as 

 recommended in regard to dipping, will harden the hoof and keep 

 away the disease. This practice should be begun about the time 

 when foot-rot is expected, and continued weekly till the middle 

 of October. In filling the troughs, which should not contain 

 more than 3 inches of water, the proportion of arsenic to be 

 added is 1 lb. for every 5 gallons. 



The breeding of Che\aot sale tups has of late become perhaps 

 too much the fashion, many of the animals exposed at the annual 

 ram sales bringing no more than butchers' prices. The breeders 

 who have taken a really prominent position are, on the other 

 hand, comparatively few in nmnber. In the west country, Mr 

 Brydon, Kinnelhead, has for many years been recognised as the 

 most successful exposer, and nest to him stand Mr Johnstone, 

 Archbank ; Mr Welsh, Ericstane ; Mr Grieve, SkelfhiU ; and Mr 

 Moffat, Craik. In the east borders a very considerable amount 

 of support has been obtained by Mr EUiot, Hindhope ; Mr E0I3- 

 son, B)T.'ness ; and Messrs Ord, Lumsden, while, by the Lammer- 

 muir flock of Mr Arcliibald, Glengelt, a high jjosition has also 

 been taken. 



The tastes prevailing in the different districts have led to 

 several kinds of sheep, each having very distmct characteristics, 

 being placed in the markets. Breeders in the west country have 

 given too much attention to the production of a styhsh animal, 

 witlKjut being sufficiently careful in seeing that with style was 

 combined width roimd the heart, and tliickness of coat. The 

 east border sheep have, on the contrary, had better fleeces and 

 better " middles," but they generally w^ere deficient in quarters 

 and head. Since 1860, however, and especially within the last 

 ten years, the stock of both districts have been a good deal im- 

 proved in their weak points, and have consequently come to 

 resemble each other more than before. 



The highest figure that has hitherto been brought by a Cheviot 

 tup, it should be stated, is 185 guineas. For tliis sum the 

 Kinnelhead ram, " Craigphadraig," the first prize tup at the 

 Highland Society's show at Inverness in 1865, was sold at Beat- 

 tock sale in 1867. Mr Brydon has also the credit of having 

 obtained the highest average price ever quoted at a tup sale, 

 having in 1865 reached £14, 14s. Next to this figure, the largest 

 average realised at any sale has been £12, 16s., which Mr Archi- 

 bald's Glengelt lot made in 1873 at Hawick. 



