HERDWICK SHEEP. 423 



gimmers sorted out and put by themselves in the intakes ; then 

 the rest are put to the tup on some inside land, and afterwards 

 go back to the fell, where they range with the wethers till near 

 lambing time, when they are brought inside again, and remain 

 till the beginning of June, or until the grass has grown enough 

 on the fell to enable them to keep their milk. Shearing, or 

 " clipping," as it is called, takes place about the middle of July, 

 some ten days after the washing, and most stocks will average 

 about 3Jlb. of wool all round, though where attention has been 

 paid, and there has been no overstinting, they will do 41b. ; and 

 we know of a stock of about 1500 which averaged nearly 4|lb. 



Clipping time is the dalesman's gay season, as the neighbours 

 go to each others' houses in turn to help first in the work and 

 then in the supper, and singing and dancing which follow. 

 After being clipped the four-year-old wethers are sold, but not 

 generally delivered till the autumn. It is hard to say what is 

 the average weight of four-year-old wethers " straight off the 

 fell," as they vary so much according to circumstances ; but we 

 should say from 121b. to 151b. We have known them from 

 some fells where the pasturage is rather better, and there was 

 no overstinting, do 201b. per quarter after a few weeks' keep on 

 seeds ; and we believe that a pen of Herdwick wethers, that won 

 in a class open to all kinds of mountain sheep at the Kendal 

 Christmas fat show, some years ago, averaged 251b. per quarter. 



It is generally the custom for a stock of sheep to be let with 

 each farm, the tenant being bound (on giving up his farm) to 

 leave the same number of sheep, of the same ages and classes ; 

 these are then valued, and, according as they have improved or 

 deteriorated during his occupancy, does the outgoing tenant 

 receive or give compensation. A clause is also generally inserted 

 in the agreement, stipulating that the tenant shall, on leaving 

 his farm, give his landlord the refusal of all his surplus stock, 

 at a price to be arrived at by a valuer on each side. The object 

 of this clause is to prevent any of the stock getting into the 

 hands of neighbouring farmers, as in that case, owing to the 

 attachment of Herd wicks to their native " heaf," they would be 

 very apt to profit th«ir new owner at the expense of their old 

 one's successor, by still grazing on their old fell. Of course, 

 however, if the outgoing tenant is migrating to another farm at a 



