BORDER LEICESTERS. 293 



mutton of fine flavour. That with the Cheviot also comes to 

 fair maturity at the same age, getting to great weight with 

 mutton of good quality. This cross also forms the foundation 

 for another by breeding from half-bred ewes with the Leicester 

 tup, and producing what are called three-parts bred sheep. For 

 this purpose all the best of the half-bred ewe lambs are kept, 

 and command a higher price than any other. On most lands 

 of fair average quality, where a portion of turnips can be grown, 

 half-bred ewes are kept. Their produce being a cross nearer 

 the Leicester, their development is rapid ; they are generally 

 forced forward for the butcher market at one year old, or little 

 over, and, in fact, form the great bulk of the mutton that now 

 feeds our teeming population. Early maturity and quick 

 returns are the order of the day ; epicures in the middle and 

 upper classes are fain to gratify their dainty appetites with 

 mutton of two and three years old ; while Southdown, Cheviot, 

 and Black-faced wedders of four and five years, with the 

 beautiful West Highland kyloe of similar age, are rarely found, 

 unless in noblemen's and gentlemen's parks, where they are 

 kept, regardless of profit, to tickle the palates of the aristo- 

 cracy. 



Flocks of pure-bred Leicesters are now not confined to the 

 Border counties, but have found their way, wherever soil and 

 olimate suit their profitable cultivation, throughout Scotland, 

 «ven to the " far north ; " and auction marts for the sale of 

 tups exist in many localities. In Caithness Sir G-eorge Dunbar 

 has, by dint of high farming and selecting sires with great care 

 and regardless of expense from the crack lots of the Border, 

 raised a flock of rare excellence, and his annual sale of tups has 

 reached a very high average. Edinburgh, for numbers, now 

 treads closely on the heels of Kelso ; but for sheep of first-class 

 quality Kelso still bears the palm. There each September 

 brings together upwards of 2000, and merchants from all parts 

 of the United Kingdom. The position of the lots in four 

 auction rings is arranged by ballot, and four auctioneers 

 simultaneously sell single sheep at the rate of one in the minute 

 for more than seven hours. The highest rate is generally 

 attained by Mr. Penny, who sells about seventy in the hour, 

 including stoppages and concise preliminary remarks, and 



