550 SHEEP MOUNTAIN AND MOORLAND 



exposed places, like Ravenstone Dale and the higher western 

 hill ranges of Lancashire, Cumberland, and Westmorland, 

 such as Orton and Shapfell through the latter of which the 

 London and North-western Railway from Carlisle to London 

 passes. It is as incapable of improvement beyond what the 

 local circumstances of soil and climate will permit as other 

 mountain breeds. Some varieties on poor land are small and 

 not of much account to look at ; but the better types are big 

 sheep, and the ewes, being good milkers when brought into 

 lowland pasture, produce good cross-bred lambs, although 

 they are rather slow feeders. 



The Swaledale is one of the best-known remaining repre- 

 sentatives of a number of varieties of Yorkshire horned breeds 

 which were classed as Dale sheep, and were originally formed 

 to suit their local surroundings by commingling, in varying 

 proportions in different districts, the blood of the hardy 

 Mountain sheep and that of the old Teesdale Long-wool, 

 which is represented by the modern Wensleydale. They are 

 very similar to, if not identical with, the Neasham sheep 

 named from this central market town, which holds large 

 annual sheep fairs in September. The type extends west- 

 ward to the Pennines and into Westmorland, Sedbergh, Pen- 

 rith, Kendal, and the surrounding dales, and is a very good 

 and hardy breed, and much in favour with butchers, having 

 dark grey faces with, generally, mealy noses and mottled 

 shanks. They are proportionally longer than Scotch Black- 

 faces, and look smaller, although they are big bodied and 

 handle well, but are not so well woolled in front. The face 

 is weaker than that of a Scotch Blackface, and the tail 

 is long, like the tail of the Lonk. They grow a shorter 

 stapled wool of finer quality, closer put on, except at the 

 breeches, where it is long and coarse and gives them a 

 badly balanced or light fore-quartered appearance. A good 

 clip averages 5 Ibs. for ewe and hogg, and sells for about the 

 same price as Scotch Blackface wool, and is used for the same 

 purpose by carpetmakers. It is not unlike the Lonk wool, 

 but a shade coarser. 



Swaledale ewes are rapidly increasing in numbers and in 

 popularity, as they are good grazers. It is claimed that the 

 draft ewes fatten more readily than the Scotch Blackface, and 



