LECTURE NO. n. 



CHEVIOT SHEEP ORIGIN AND HISTORY, CHARAC- 

 TERISTICS AND STANDARD POINTS. 



ORIGIN AND HISTORY. 



I. A narrow strip of country along the River 

 Tweed and amid the Cheviot hills formed the origi- 

 nal home of this breed of sheep. 



(1) Amid the hills and valleys of this semi-mountain 

 range they have pastured for long centuries. 



(2) Neither history nor tradition has given the slightest 

 clue as to the origin of the Cheviots which may be accepted 

 as satisfactory. 



II. Their former characters. 



(1) Originally they were small, light boned and light in 

 the breast and forequarter. 



(2) The wool was finer than at present, but it was also 

 much shorter. 



(3) They were then, as now, a singularly hardy breed. 



III. How improvement was effected. 



(1) Improvement in breeding flocks has been secured 

 entirely by selection, improved keep in winter and intelligent 

 management. 



(2) The blood of both the long and medium wooled 

 breeds has frequently been introduced, but to no purpose, 

 except with the drafts held for disposal, as a lessened hardi- 

 hood is the invariable result. 



IV. Exposure in their native home. 



(1) During the whole of the year Cheviots are exposed 

 without any shelter save that which their native glens afford. 



(2) They are fed some hay in time of deep snow, and 

 the ewes get turnips at the lambing season. 



(3) The terrible winter storms which occur at intervals 

 sometimes occasion severe losses. 



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