224 THE BLACKFACED BKEED OF SHEEP. 



general independent bearing ? Tiiis question lias perplexed the 

 minds of people engaged in pastoral pursuits for tiie greater 

 part of a century, l3ut their past experience has now led to a 

 practical solution of the problem. With a slight modification of 

 the rough character of the Highland wool, which has already 

 been effected in some parts of the country, it cannot be doubted 

 that the blackfaced breed will hold its own, at all times, against 

 all the other varieties of sheep. It is now universally admitted 

 that the only means by which this breed of sheep can be 

 improved or enhanced in value, is by judicious selection and 

 careful breeding ; and with a view to encourage and if possible 

 assist ilockowners in effecting the desired object, I subjoin a 

 few suggestions which, if carried into effect, I have no doubt 

 will answer the design for which they have been written: — 



1. Select the best woolled tups and ewes of the blackfaced 

 breed, possessing the most fashionable type — which I have 

 previously described — of bodies, heads, and horns, from flocks 

 which are known to contain blood of the purest description, but 

 avoid in-and-in breeding. 



2. Having selected say, five, ten, or twenty ewes, which come 

 nearest ideal perfection, mate them with tups coming as nearly 

 as possible to the standard of excellence in every point. 



3. Care should be taken that these and their produce be not 

 allowed to pasture among the ordinary hill stock. 



4. Care should be taken that the female progeny of the first 

 selected lot be not allowed to come in contact with the tups 

 until they are at least eighteen months old, at which time another 

 tup will require to be selected, but not from the same source as 

 the sire or dam of the gimmers had come. 



5. This practice of getting a new tup for each succeeding race 

 should be adopted until the flock would increase so as to permit 

 a portion of the gimmers being sold. All inferior gimmers should 

 be disposed of every year, as should also the whole of the ram 

 lambs. 



6. It is specially important that the pasture should never be 

 overstocked, that the ewes should be kept in good condition 

 during winter, and that the lambs should not be allowed to fall 

 off in condition during and after the weaning season. 



Appendix. 



Mr Howatson of Glenbuck gives it as his opinion, that the 

 blackfaced sheep are increasing in number, and are deservedly 

 becoming more popular throughout Scotland every year. The 

 average yield of wool per animal on his farm is 5 J lbs. per hogg 

 and ewe. It is a great mistake, says Mr Howatson, to smear 

 sheep ; it should never be done, and no good farmer will persist 



