40 ON THE AGEICULTUEE OF THE 



agement of Cheviots, with trifling exceptions, is everywhere much 

 the same. In some cases the ho^jo-ets are never weaned ; in others, 

 they are separated from their mothers for a few days only, and then 

 put back to them. Ewes seldom have lambs until they are two years 

 old, and are sold off, as in the case of blackfaces, at five or six to bear 

 a crop of half-breds in England. Shearing of the Cheviot flocks 

 takes place in July, the weight and quality of the fleece depend- 

 ing much upon the pasture, thus verifying the old adage v\diich 

 states that "the wool goes in at the mouth." Mr Stevenson, 

 Blount Lothian, has a liock of 400 Cheviot ewes. In the sum- 

 mer they feed upon the hill pastures, and in winter have a few 

 turnips. Several rams are annually bred and disposed of at the 

 Lothian Eam Sales, where they always realise good prices. Mr 

 Penman, Bonally, owns a very old established Hock of Cheviots, 

 dating back upwards of forty years. On the 1st of April the 

 lambing gimmers are taken from the hill to the grass parks. 

 After lambing the ewes and their progeny are sent back to the 

 hills for the summer. Clipping takes place early in July, and 

 dipping in September and again in January. Eitchie's dip is 

 now generally preferred. Eams are sold at the annual sales 

 and bring good prices. Mr Pienderleith has bred Cheviots at 

 Moorfoot for a quarter of a century. The stock is mostly kept 

 to the hill pastures, a little hay being given when required. 

 Eams from this fold bring as far as L.20 at they early sales. 

 Perhaps the best and largest flock of Cheviots in Mid-Lothian 

 belongs to Mrs Moffat, Easter Kinleith, Currie. About the 

 1st of March the gimmers in lamb and the weaker end of 

 the ewes are put on hay and turnips until the lambing season. 

 This gives them strength, and the dams have a good supply 

 of milk, while the lambs are healthy and sprightly. "Wean- 

 ing takes place in July, about 40 or 50 of the best male 

 lambs being kept for rams. The highest price ever reached was 

 L.78, but L.30, L.40, and L.oO are common figures. 



Border Ldcesters. — This celebrated breed of sheep, w^hich is 

 said to have been introduced into the Border counties by Messrs 

 Cully upwards of a century ago, has several admirers in the 

 Lothians. Much discussion — and even dissension — has been 

 provoked of late anent the qualities of the Border Leicester, but 

 it is not within the pale of this report to enter into the merits 

 and demerits of the breed; we therefore pass these points over with 

 the remark, that whatever faults may be adduced, some of the 

 flocks we have seen not only seem to thrive and do well, but 

 also leave a handsome profit in the hands of the breeder and 

 rearer. The Border Leicester has the reputation of producing- 

 a larger quantity of mutton and wool than almost any other 

 breed. The flesh they produce is, however, somewhat coarse in 

 grain and tallowy in the fat. In the most noted flocks the male 



