262 THE BOEDER LEICESTEK BREED OF SHEEP. 



soils in Forfarshire I would consider one cwt. of sulphate of 

 ammonia a maximum dressing for turnips, and would expect on 

 the soils I have mentioned quite as heaf y a crop and one of a 

 more solid quality from an increase of the potash and a decrease 

 of the nitrogen used in these experiments. 



I cannot conclude this report without thanking the gentle- 

 men who have so kindly granted me the use of their soil, along 

 with their hearty support and co-operation in the carrying out of 

 these experiments. The results obtained will no doubt assist them 

 in no small decree in the economical manurinc: of their future 

 turnip crops, but will to an equal extent assist all the farmers 

 in the wide district which the experiments embrace. I have 

 also to thank the chemical committee of the Highland Society 

 for so kindly asking their talented chemist to inspect the 

 stations and do the analysis for the experiments. A great deal 

 of the value which may be attached to the experiments is due 

 to his able assistance and co-operation. 



In concluding, I would strongly urge upon the farmers of 

 central Forfarshire a very much more extensive use of potash, 

 especially for their root crops ; and in all manures applied, 

 particularly insoluble manures, the greatest attention ought 

 to be oiven to have them in the finest mechanical state 

 of division possible, without which maximum results cannot 

 be got. 



THE BORDER LEICESTER BREED OF SHEEP. 



By David Archibald, Awa Moa, Octoga, Xew Zealand. 



[Premium — Ten Sovereigns. ] 



/ 



This breed of sheep is one whose history is specially interest- 

 ing, both because of its development being due in rather a 

 remarkable way to the skill of one man, and of its existence 

 forming a striking illustration of what can be done by selection 

 in the breedino; of animals. 



Hitherto it has always been admitted that it is to the 

 well-known Bakewell that the credit of forming the type 

 is due ; and probably no claim for distinction was ever put 

 forward on behalf of any man upon clearer grounds. There is, 

 no doubt, mention made by Youatt of an attempt having been 

 made before Bakewell's time to improve the sheep then native 

 to Leicestershire; but this attempt was a comparative failure. 

 " It is," this writer states, " commonly believed that a farmer^ 

 named Allom of Clifton, possessed a superior breed of long- 

 woolled sheep, and that the neighbouring farmers and many 



