84 FARM MANAGEMENT 



the mountain breeds. The Border Leicester 

 and Cheviot cross is larger than the Border 

 Leicester and Blackface cross, but the quality 

 of the mutton is said to be not quite as high. 

 Wensleydales are used on Blackfaces, in prefer- 

 ence to Border Leicesters, where the Blackfaces 

 are bigger and leaner. What are known as 

 Mashams are the produce of the Wensleydale 

 and Blackface cross, and are extensively kept 

 for fattening. 



These crosses can also be advantageously 

 carried a step further, by mating the half-bred 

 ewe with the Border Leicester ram, the result 

 being lambs noted for the fat lamb market. 

 Wensleydales on Mashams give a high quality 

 of lean mutton. 



Oxford Down rams are sometimes used on 

 the half-breds mentioned above to avoid the 

 fattiness in the meat that is liable to result 

 when Border Leicesters are used. 



Down breeds are such splendid early 

 maturers that they are largely used amongst 

 Border Leicester, Clun Forest and Welsh 

 sheep, especially Suffolk Down and Shropshire 

 rams. Shropshire rams on Dorset Horns give 

 very early-maturing lambs, in fact, for fat lamb 



