Breeds of Sheep best adapted to different Localities, 441 



proper degree of purity of blood; it is certainly an indirect 

 proof of the great value of this breed for its own peculiar 

 locality, that farmers should strain and devote themselves to a 

 point so apparently simple ; but there are difficulties to surmount 

 of no ordinary nature in order to procure a genuine flock, which 

 serves in a like manner to indicate their great worth. These 

 sheep, not being at first properly appreciated, got more or less 

 crossed with the prevailing black breed, and to restore the breed 

 to its original purity is one of the difficulties that a Herdwick 

 flockmaster has to overcome. This difficulty is greatly enhanced 

 by the peculiar habits of the animal, who is exceedingly shy, and 

 cannot be held within any bounds in an enclosed country, except 

 it is kept very quiet for a week. Another cause is that they are 

 always depastured on the open mountain, where black-faced 

 flocks also frequendy pasture ; this is a common source of disap- 

 pointment to the breeder ; in addition to which it must be 

 remembered that if a Herdwick ewe gets with a black-faced 

 ram, the sheepowner is often compelled to retain the progeny ; 

 for if he sells it, he cannot obtain a Herdwick in its place, 

 in consequence of the scarcity and growing demand for the 

 breed, not only to breed from for the perpetuation of the pure 

 race, but also for the value of the ewes in rearing lambs 

 crossed from Leicesters and Southdowns. When we see a set of 

 careful farmers, than whom there is not a more thrifty and hard- 

 working body in the United Kingdom, thus strenuously and 

 perseveringly bending themselves to the one object — the im- 

 provement of the breed under consideration — we may rest assured 

 that their superiority over the old black-faced race is of no 

 ordinary description. Asa proof of the value set on this breed, 

 I insert the following account of the exhibition for the year 

 1818, which is annually held at Ennerdale Bridge. It will be 

 satisfactory to agriculturist to know that the spirit of enterprise 

 and improvement is to be found in this wild and remote district, 

 and will serve as an example to others more favoured but less 

 enterprising to follow in the like steps. 



West Cumberland Fell Dales Association Sheep Show. — The annual exhi- 

 bition of the Fell Dales Association for the improvement of the Herdwick 

 breed of sheep, took place at Ennerdale Bridge on Friday last. The day 

 was exceedingly fine — a circumstance which tended very materially to 

 increase the numerical importance of the meeting, for which most ex- 

 cellent arrangements had been made by the Committee of Management 

 and Mr. Robert Beck, who proved himself as good a caterer in that as in 

 the culinary department. The full attendance of breeders and agriculturists 

 generally, caused the trade in tups to rule with unusual activity, and it is 

 computed that not less than two hundred specimens of the genuine breed 

 changed hands on the occasion. Great impartiality and discernment were 

 shown by the judges (Mr. Henry Steel, of Catta, Mr. Thomas Gasgarth, 

 and Mr. Joseph Porter), who cornplimented the competitors on the ex- 



