2 2 THE MERRY GEE-GEE 



of various districts is truly marvellous. 

 Take Shropshire or Suffolk sheep to 

 winter on turnips in Lincolnshire, and 

 they will do no good whatever. Take 

 Lincolns to Warwickshire or Staffordshire, 

 and they will quickly lose the staple and 

 lustre of their wool. Breed them there 

 two or three seasons, and you will hardly 

 tell them from shortwools : they lose their 

 characteristics. You must not take Welsh 

 Runts or Hereford cattle further north- 

 east than Leicestershire, or the stronger 

 grass and sharp air will settle their pre- 

 tensions ; they must give place to the 

 hardier shorthorn, and so on. 



How many times does one hear the 

 argument advanced that you seldom get 

 chops and steaks in the provinces equal to 

 those in town i* — an opinion in which I 

 entirely concur, so far as regards the best 

 hotels and restaurants. Permit me to 



