CEOSSES AND CROSS -BREEDING. 79 



extraordinary number of distinct features, characteristics, and uses 

 contained in the sheep themselves. 



The following useful information was published by the Board 

 of Agriculture and Fisheries, and from its specific nature, it is 

 suitably given here : 



CROSS -BREEDING FOR MUTTON IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND. 



South of England buyers often visit the great autumn sheep 

 auctions of the North, in order to purchase cross-bred lambs and 

 draft cross-bred ewes. Some information as to the manner in 

 which these cross-bred sheep are produced may, therefore, be of 

 value to farmers and others who are interested in the production of 

 first -class mutton. 



The greater part of the mutton produced in the four northern 

 counties of England is cross-bred, and the same may be said of 

 that fed in the South of Scotland. The chief reasons for the method 

 of breeding prevailing in these districts are to be found in the 

 mountainous character of the country, the long and often severe 

 winters, and the special suitability of the climate for turnip-growing. 



Mountain Breeds. All the crosses met with in the North of 

 England have their foundation in the mountain breeds : the 

 Cheviot, on the low and verdant Border hills ; the Black -faced 

 mountain sheep (Scotch Black-face), on the higher hills of Scotland, 

 and on the Pennine chain and its spurs running into Northumber- 

 land, Cumberland, Durham, and Westmorland ; the Herdwick, 

 on the poor mountain land of Cumberland and Westmorland ; 

 and the Limestone fell sheep of Westmorland. 



Of these the Herdwick is the hardiest possibly the hardiest 

 sheep in existence and able to get its living throughout the winter 

 on the scanty herbage of the fells, so long as the ground is not 

 covered with frozen snow. Closely following the Herdwick for 

 hardiness are the Black-faced mountain and the Limestone sheep. 

 Without these sheep very little fell farming would be possible, and 

 there would be no means of profitably turning to account the 

 mountain herbage in these districts. But they are small sheep, 

 coarse in the wool, slow in maturing, and too wandering in habit 

 to settle down quietly to feed in small fields and folds ; consequently, 

 as distinct breeds, they are not profitable for stocking tillage farms, 

 which are comparatively highly rented, and on which the production 

 of rapidly maturing lamb and mutton is aimed at and quick returns 

 are expected. On the other hand, all three breeds are renowned 

 for the large proportion of lean meat in the carcase, and for the 

 sweet and fine-grained quality of their flesh. 



The Cheviot has a fleece of fine quality, and is a much tamer 

 sheep than those just described. It is very compactly made 



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