574 Improved Value of Scotch Sheep. 



sheep were sold the same day to Pvlr. P. Murphy, butcher, at 

 5/. 8s. per head. The heaviest weighed 315 lbs. live weight, and 

 the average was 278 lbs. 



The second prize pen of 5, belonging to Mr, P. M. Johnstone, 

 Bankhead, Dalswinton, averaged 235 lbs. ; they v/ere sold at 

 5Z. 2s. 6d. each. 



The first prize — a cross between the Blackfaced ewe and the 

 Leicester ram — was awarded to Mr, R. Webster, Arras Kells ; 

 these sheep, under 22 months old, were sold at Al. Is. QcL each. 



In the class for sheep of any breed, the first prize was awarded 

 to a pen of pure-bred Leicesters, shown by Mr, P. M, Johnstone ; 

 the heaviest weighed 276 lbs, live weight, and averaged 262 lbs., 

 and realised 57. 7s. 6g?, each. The second prize was awarded to 

 a pen of sheep, 2 years old, a cross between the Black-faced ewe 

 and Leicester ram ; the heaviest weighed 276 lbs. live weight, 

 and the five averaged 268 lbs,, and were sold at 5/. 12s. per 

 head. 



In the class for pure-bred Cheviots, under 22 mouths old, the 

 first prize was awarded to Mr. M'Gill, Rotchell ; the average 

 weight of this pen was 209 lbs. live weight ; they fetched 4/. 9s. 

 each. The second prise lot in the same class made 4/. each. A 

 pen of half-breds, Leicester and Cheviot, one year old, averaged 

 273 lbs. ; this lot was also shown by Mr. M'Gill. The first 

 prize Black-faced wethers made 3Z. 7s. 6rf. each. 



That this improvement in value has not been effected without 

 pains and expense, on the part of breeders, is evidenced by the 

 prices paid for rams obtained from flocks of high reputation ; for 

 instance, on the 13th September, 1865, 169 Cheviot rams sold 

 by public auction at Beattock, by Mr. Oliver of Hawick, made 

 the following prices : — 



£ s, d. 



1 Five Shear Earn 38 



18 Four Shears averaged 26 6 1 



The highest price being 115 



60 Three year-olds averaged 15 11 3 



The highest price of this lot heing .. .. 155 



64 Two year-olds averaged 14 18 8 



Highest price .. .. 121 



26 Yearhngs averaged 6 13 5 



The highest price was 18 



The 169 sheep realised in the aggregate the high sum of 

 2484Z, 10s,, or an average of 14/, 14s. per head, which is the 

 best proof we can give of the high estimation in which this 

 breed is held by the flockmasters of the Border counties. 



During the year 1864, the gross number of fat sheep sent south 

 by rail from Dumfries alone was 40,000, the greater part of which 

 were cross-breds, worth from 45s. to 65s. per head. A large 



