390 THE SHEEP OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



both in the advocacy and practice of the system of cutting a con- 

 siderable quantity of hay, not only on the open grounds, wherever 

 the deepness of the soil afforded an extra covering, but by 

 having several inclosures on each farm where hay could be pro- 

 duced sufficient for its requirements, thus making them self- 

 sustaining. These inclosures are also useful as a run for the 

 weaker ewes and lambs, and afford an early bite, so essential to 

 swes in the lambing season. To use Mr. Aitchison's own forcible 

 language, " Hay is the sheet anchor of the stock farmer." We 

 doubt not some of our readers will recognise in Mr. Aitchison a 

 man not only intimately associated with the improvement of 

 Cheviot stock, but of agriculture in general, and recall with a 

 thrill of pleasure his deep-toned voice, clear enunciation, and 

 fervid eloquence in returning thanks at the banquets of the 

 Highland Society's of Scotland for the toast of " The Tenantry,'* 

 or the halo of romance he threw over his subject when he pro- 

 posed " The Peasantry of Scotland." 



The practical management of a Cheviot flock is, on the whole, 

 exceedingly simple. G-enerally speaking, they go at large over 

 the farm during the whole season, individual sheep never taking 

 a very wide range. The area required for each varies from about 

 two to four acres, according to quality. In some cases the hogs 

 are kept separate from the ewes, which gives an opportunity of 

 supplying them with more generous treatment in stormy weather, 

 but frequently they are allowed, shortly after weaning, to graze 

 together. This gives them the advantage of a mother's care, for 

 they generally recognise each other. In some cases they are 

 allowed to go on without being weaned at all, but we think such 

 a system must be injurious to the future progeny. Ewes have 

 their first lambs in April at two years old, and are sold as drafts 

 at five or six, being replaced by the best of the ewe lambs. They 

 are invariably sold for producing a crop of lambs by Leicester 

 tups. These, with the wedder lambs, the small ewe lambs, and 

 wool, usually form the whole produce of the farm. This applies 

 to Cheviots in the southern counties of Scotland — in the north 

 the practice differs considerably. There the wedder lambs are 

 not sold, but kept on till sold as wedders at three years old. The 

 wedder hogs are never wintered at home, but sent into winter 

 quarters in Eoss-shire and neighbouring counties — some as far 



