NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



251 



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CHEVIOT SHEEP, 



The Cheviot sheep are among the most distin- 

 guished breeds in Great Britain. They are remark- 

 able for their hardiness, and are admirably adapted 

 to hills and mountains in cold regions ; not only 

 enduring cold and storms, but hard fare. They come 

 to maturity rather early, and their flesh is of supe- 

 rior quality. Their wool is rather coarse, and used 

 mostly for combing purposes. 



This is the principal breed kept on the Cheviot 

 Hills, an extensive elevated range, where snows and 

 storms often prevail during the winter, and where 

 they are supported on the grass and hay of these 

 hills. So long have they been kept on these moun- 

 tains that their origin or introduction to them cannot 

 be distinctly traced. 



The size of the Cheviot sheep is moderate, weth- 

 ers averaging from twelve to eighteen pounds per 

 quarter : the color of the face and legs is white ; the 

 countenance open ; the eye lively and prominent ; 

 the ear large ; the body long ; and the limbs are 

 long, which fits them for travelling, and enables 

 them to pass over bogs and snows. The fleece is 

 close, which protects them not only from cold, but 

 from snow and rain. 



This breed of sheep has been extended over the 

 Highlands in Scotland, and is becoming very popular 

 in elevated regions. They rank among the best in 

 quality of mutton, and they fatten vcrj' readily ; 

 and though their fleeces are not fine, they ai-e rather 

 large and profitable. 



We have no doubt that this breed of sheep is 

 well adapted to the elevated and hilly regions and 

 mountains in the middle and northern parts of our 

 country, and we hope that experiments will bo made 



to test their utility in such regions. This subject 

 has received but little attention. Hon. Daniel Web- 

 ster has some of this breed on his farm in Mai'shfield, 

 and he is much pleased with their appearance. But 

 from what we have heard of his farm, we should not 

 think that this breed is so well adapted to it, as some 

 of the larger breeds, that are accustomed to lux- 

 uriant herbage on flat or slightly rolling lands. The)- 

 will doubtless be propagated on this farm, and dis- 

 tributed and fairly tested in more elevated regions. 



The Cheviot breed has been crossed with the Lei- 

 cester, which gives them finer forms, but the wool is 

 longer and coarser. This cross prevails considerably 

 in Scotland, where it is much admired, and is taking 

 the place of the native black- faced breed of that 

 country. 



He is a public benefactor, who, by the prudent 

 and skilful outlay of his money in bettering its con- 

 dition, shall make a single field yield permanently a 

 double crop ; and he who docs this over a sq\unc 

 mile, virtually adds a square mile to the national ter- 

 ritory — nay, he does more ; he doubles, to this ex- 

 tent, the territorial resources of the country, with- 

 out giving the state any larger actual area to ilc^fcm!. 

 All hail, then, to the improvers of the soil ! Hcaitli 

 and long life be their fortune — may their hearts be 

 light and their purses heavy — may their dreams bo 

 few aiul pleasant, and their sleep the sweet repose of 

 the weary — may they see the fruits of their own la- 

 bor, and may their sons reap still heavier liai vcst-s. — 

 Sekcicd. 



First procure first-rate animals for your farm, and 

 then procure good, humane, and intelligent men te 

 take care of them. 



