THE BORDER LEICESTER BREED OF SHEEP. 277 



the former cross ; while a cross between tlie Leicester tup and 

 blackfacecl ewes occupies a wide stretch of country in the mid- 

 land and south-western counties. These crosses have, of course, 

 increased considerably the demand both for Cheviot and black- 

 faced ewes and ewe lambs, and have cocsequently raised the 

 prices of those stocks. Xor have their benefits been confined to 

 these islands, they having been largely used in almost every 

 part of the world, and particularly in the British colonies, where 

 they have effected marked improvements upon the merinoes. 

 In recrard to the lines of their future treatment little can be 

 suggested, except, as need scarcely be said, that the perfect type 

 should never be lost sight of. If there be one point as to w^hich 

 special attention seems to be called for, it is the neck. In too 

 many flocks there is a prevalence of faulty, weak necks ; and it 

 should therefore be made matter of care, by every breeder to see 

 that this point be fully developed. The wool might also be 

 improved in quality and more uniform in its covering; while a 

 deficiency in the thighs, which is much too common, ought to be 

 remedied. Of one feature in the tup trade, which, seeing that 

 these sheep are so entirely produced for crossing other breeds, 

 constitutes the most important branch of Leicester breeding, 

 mention may also be made. Every day complaints are heard 

 of tups being injured by excessive feeding, and no doubt there 

 is a c'-ood deal of around for these, the Leicester beini^ consti- 

 tutionally disposed to fatten more readily than any other Scotch 

 sheep, and therefore more liable to have its usefulness interfered 

 with in this way. This is, however, a matter which buyers 

 hiive in their own hands. So loug as the preference is given at 

 sales to highly fed tups, and animals, no matter how well bred 

 and how good in character, are neglected solely because they 

 are not burdened with fat, the breeder cannot be blamed for 

 producing the only sheep that will find a market. It is there- 

 fore the purchaser and not the exposer who is the real offender ; 

 and as soon as this fact is recognised, and selections are made 

 in sale rings only for valuable breeding points, breeders will at 

 once find it to their advantage to reduce their feeding. Pro- 

 vided that no constitutional defect — such as in all animals is 

 only too ready to occur, unless the work of selection be always 

 closely attended to — is allowed to detract from the character of 

 the breed — and of this there surely need Ije no fear — it will be 

 long before a sheep better fitted than the Leicester to realise 

 profit to the farming community will be found. 



