8 Wild Life in Wales 



greater attention paid to their breeding and selection. A 

 comparison, not very flattering to the first named, has 

 already been drawn between the Welsh hill farmer and 

 a Scotch shepherd, and it is not desired to rub salt into 

 what may be a sore place, too violently ; but it is safe to 

 say that were but a fractional part of the care and intelligence 

 displayed by the northern shepherd in the improvement 

 of his flocks, brought into play here, the result would be 

 highly beneficial to both the tenant and his landlord. It 

 would be presumptuous to say that these remarks apply 

 equally in every case, but with regard to many of the farms 

 which came particularly under my notice I can fearlessly 

 maintain that they are no exaggeration. The prevalent 

 system upon which the draft intended for market is drawn 

 from the flock is something that would make a Scotchman 

 shudder ! The best animals are marked for sale, and those 

 that are inferior returned to the hill for breeding purposes. 

 This of course applies chiefly to the ewes, and it is super- 

 fluous to remark that the selection of the female to breed 

 from ought to be the first consideration of him who would 

 improve his flock. But with regard to rams not much 

 more judgment is displayed. Almost anything seems 

 to be considered good enough to father the future genera- 

 tion, and in some of the animals I saw being used it would 

 have taxed the ingenuity of a judge to point out a redeeming 

 feature. Steady deterioration, not improvement, is the 

 goal to which all such roads lead ; and in face of what 

 has been said, the inherent hardiness of the race of Welsh 

 sheep, and the splendid capability of the mountains to 

 maintain it, need not be further dilated upon. 



