EXMOOR SHEEP. 373 



living weight 6cwt. Oqrs. 91b. The other three pens in the same 

 class weighed respectively 4cwt. Iqr. 251b., 4cwt. Iqr. 61b., and 

 4cwt. Oqr. 241b. 



Wool has advanced in price, however, no less than mutton, 

 which may be taken as the true reason why the practice of run- 

 ning Exmoor wethers three or four years on the hill commons 

 for the value of^their fleeces is still adopted very extensively. 

 The education they receive in this semi-wild state over so long a 

 period adds prejudicially to their feeding profitably sub- 

 sequently ; for an intelligent farm bailiff of the district has been 

 known to observe *' that you may as well try to fatten a hurdle 

 as one of the old running wethers of the common Exmoor breed." 

 But the mutton is of first-class quality after the work is effected, 

 and the aunual yield of wool at prices which prevailed a few 

 years since was a consideration, being held to be the easiest and 

 cheapest mode of converting the hill commons to profitable 

 account. 



Mr. Birmingham, who has been previously quoted, answered 

 some of our queries on this subject as follows : " In many places 

 the Exmoor sheep which run on the commons are inferior and 

 difficult to fatten. In such cases the wool is the first considera- 

 tion. Th«y are hardy, and will stand any amount of bad weather, 

 and last to a great age. In the other class of sheep that have 

 been improved of late years, flesh has been studied as well as 

 wool. On the Winsford-hills, and at Anstey, Withpool, and 

 Holland, may be seen fine specimens of improved Exmoor sheep, 

 that are killed when 2| years of age ; their mutton is splendid, 

 and always commands a high price. The lambs are taken care 

 of until hoggets, when they are turned to common with the old 

 sheep until taken in to be fed. The ewes are not fattened until 

 broken-mouthed. The common kind of Exmoors fatten to about 

 151b. per quarter, but the highly-bred to 191b. per quarter, and 

 some wether sheep for Christmas I have known to reach 281b. 

 per quarter." 



Mr. J. M. King, jun., of Steart, Dunster, has kindly afforded 

 some valuable information as to the present management of 

 Exmoor flocks. He says : " The usual period of lambing is from 

 March to the middle of April, and the weaning takes place about 

 Midsummer. They are turned on to the hills early in the 



