FEBRUARY 123 



surround them ; indeed, their proportions are a pleasure to con- 

 template at every time of year. But about trees, as in other 

 things, opinions vary. 



This afternoon I had a discussion with Hood as to what should 

 be done with the lambs. He is of opinion and on the whole I 

 agree with him that it will be best to sell them all out and buy 

 in some black-faced ewes in the autumn. I very much doubt 

 whether it would pay to keep on these cross-bred * gimmel ' lambs 

 and make ewes of them, as I think that they would lack size. So 

 they will have to go, poor little things, and the Southdown ewes 

 with them. I think that I shall keep to Southdown rams, however, 

 as I am sure that the cross gives quality to the mutton. 



