210 THE BLACKFACED BREED OF SHEEP. 



bald, Overshiels, has long been regarded as a source of pure 

 blood, and good breeding. A distinguished sheep farmer, 

 writing to u.s on the subject of blackfaced sheep, likens them 

 to the favourite tribes of black Polled Aberdeen or Angus 

 cattle, thus-—" I should say of the blackfaced sheep which are 

 notable for their long standing and superior breeding, that the 

 Glenbuck stock occupies the position of the ' Ericas,' and the 

 Overshiels and Knowehead stocks the places of the 'Prides' 

 and * Lucys.' " 



Other gentlemen who have aided in the improvement of the 

 breed are Messrs Fleming, Ploughland, Lanarkshire ; James 

 Greenshields, West Town, Lanarkshire ; T. Aitken, Listonshiels 

 James Craig of Craigdarroch ; Pi. Buchanan, Letter, Kill earn 

 J. Moffat, Gateside, Dumfries ; P. Melrose, Westloch, Peebles 

 Thomas Murray, Braidwood, Penicuik ; John Sloan, Barnhill, 

 Ayrshire ; James Duncan of Benmore, Argyllshire ; William 

 Whyte, Spott, Kirriemuir ; Peter Piobertson, Achilty, Dingwall ; 

 James A. Gordon, Udale, Invergordon ; Donald Stewart, Chapel- 

 park, Kingussie ; and Mr Brydon, Burncastle, Berwickshire. 



I have to acknowledge my gratitude to several of these 

 gentlemen for their valuable assistance, in placing at my disposal 

 their observations and experiences in connection with the 

 breeding and rearing of blackfaced sheep. Their communica- 

 tions will not only form an interesting appendix to my treatise, 

 but they have served in confirming former opinions. Lanark- 

 shire has from time immemorial been regarded as the nui^sery 

 of blackfaced sheep, and this and other southern counties have 

 played important parts in the resuscitation of the breed. Their 

 annual sales have been valuable institutions for many years, and 

 have been the mediums through which a great deal of excellent 

 blood has been disseminated. Drafts of young tups from the 

 best breeding stocks in Britain are disposed of at these sales, 

 and the gradual increase of prices obtained for tups during the 

 past quarter of a century, affords a good indication of the grow- 

 ing desire to procure pure blood and fashionable types. The 

 great secret in keeping blackfaces is to avoid overstocking. 

 The importance of this was sadly overlooked in the earlier 

 history of the breed, but with the enlightenment of the past fifty or 

 sixty years this disadvantage has been generally guarded against. 



The principal events of the year for breeders of blackfaced 

 sheep are the Lothian ram sales, the Perth sales, and the 

 autumn Palkirk trysts. At all these there is generally a good 

 representation of the leading sheep stocks in Scotland, which 

 country may be designated the home and fountainhead of the 

 breed. The Lothian ram sale is an important event to breeders 

 who go in for high-class stock, and we are pleased to note that 

 these are year by year increasing in number. That they are 



