Improved Value of Scotch Sheep. 573 



As a further illustration of the rans^e of prices within the last 

 two years, I may mention that at Melrose, which has the repu- 

 tation of having the largest lamb-fair in the south of Scotland, 

 on the 1-lth of August, 1866, from 70,000 to 80,000 lambs were 

 shown, being fully 10,000 above the number of the previous 

 year. The quality was also good ; but prices had considerably 

 receded — half-bred lambs were down from 55. to Qs. At the 

 same fair in August, 1867, there were 80,000 lambs on offer, 

 scarcely equal in condition to those of last year. Prices were 

 still further reduced, so that the best lots made from 10^. to 125. 

 less than last year, the highest price obtained for three-parts-bred 

 lambs was 27s. per head. 



At Lockerby, in 1866, upwards of 30,000 Iambs were shown, 

 chiefly from Dumfriesshire ; half-bred lambs made from 285. to 

 435. ; Cheviots, from I85. to 295. At this same fair in 1867, 

 the numbers shown were estimated at 70,000; prices for every 

 description had fallen from 30 to 50, and, in some instances, 

 even 60 per cent, below those of last year. Half-bred lambs 

 made from 205. to 255. Gd. ; Cheviot wedder lambs from Gs. Qd. 

 to IO5. 6rf. ; Cheviot ewe lambs from IO5. to 125. In several 

 instances wedder lambs were sold at 7s., the price they obtained 

 from the same farms last year being 18s. to 19s. Last year a 

 lot of Cheviot ewe lambs made 25s. 9f/. ; this year, from the 

 same farm, they only realised lis. 



The Earl of Durham's annual sale of fat stock was held at 

 Fence Houses, on the 20th November, 1866, where 800 fat sheep 

 were sold. The average prices were as follows : — 



s. d. 



60 Half-bred Leicester and Cheviot Wetliers averaged., .. 76 4 



100 „ „ llieaves „ .. .. 63 



20 Southdown Wethers averaged 79 



40 „ Tlieavcs „ 68 3 



30 „ Wethers „ 80 2 



36 „ Theaves „ 62 0^ 



210 Half-bred Leicester and Cheviot Ewes averaged .. .. 64 4? 

 304 Cheviot Ewes averaged 52 8f 



It afforded a good illustration of the comparative value of the 

 Leicester, Cheviot, and the Southdown ; and I consider that, if 

 equal numbers of each breed had been on sale, the crosses would 

 have made more money per head than their aristocratic rivals. 

 If it be objected that this trial was not a fair one, the soil and 

 climate being unfavourable to the Southdown, my answer is that 

 20 Southdowns, worth over 4/. each, could not but possess merits 

 of no mean order, and be fair specimens of the race. 



At the Dumfries Show, held on the 13th December last, for 

 the best pen of 5 half-bred shearling wethers, under 22 months, 

 the first prize was awarded to Mr. R. Smith, Ladyland ; these 



