MODERN SHEEP: BKEEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 115 



(28 cents) a pound being obtained for it this year and the ordi- 

 nary clip for the Lonk is nine or ten pounds. 



The points of the Lonk are : Good head, with nice flat horn 

 coming out of the corners of the head. The color of the face and 

 legs is a clear black and white. They have a good Eoman nose. 

 The body should be all white, no black is wanted in the wool, plenty 

 of bone in the legs and a good strong fleece to stand the rough 

 weather, but not kempy. The fleece from the ram enclosed, when 

 a shearling, weighed seventeen pounds. When put up for show 

 purposes the sheep are put indoors about November and are fed 

 linseed cake, oats, peas and corn with plenty of good hay and 

 turnips. The average price for a good ram lamb is about 10 

 guineas, but I refused 30 for "Worsthorne Wonder" when a 

 shearling, as I wanted him for breeding purposes. The ewes are 

 sold for about 50s right off the hills, but some of the best make 

 much more. 



THE HERDWICK. 



The Herd wick, which is noted for its strong constitution, is 

 a native of the Cumberland and Westmoreland Hills. ' Tradition 

 has it that after Admiral Drake had broken the famous line of 

 Spanish galeons on the sandy shore of Cumberland, at Driggs, 

 forty sheep managed to save themselves and were claimed as 

 flotsam and jetsam by the lord of the manor. These sheep are 

 well adapted for the mountains. It would seem that there is a 

 place for this hardy breed in the mountainous districts of this 

 country. 



Herdwick sheep are not unlike the Highland Blackface in 

 their ability to live and thrive upon poor fare. In their home in 

 the poor mountainous districts of Cumberland, where they are 

 known locally as "heaf ' sheep, a little heather and now and then 

 a tuft of grass is about all that can be found on the rock sur- 

 face. In the winter when the snow lies deep on the fell, these 

 sheep will eat their way to the very crest of the hills and do well. 

 It is said that the best managers make it a rule never under any 

 circumstance to furnish hay, but leave the sheep to take care of 

 themselves, which they do in a most wonderful way. On some 

 farms a portion of the flock of Herdwicks belongs to the landlord 

 and is handed down from tenant to tenant. Changes are not 

 frequent. When they do occur the sheep are inspected very care- 

 fully by the two viewers or inspectors of each party, who if neces- 

 sary call in another man to settle any misunderstanding as to 

 valuation, etc. They make a report as to the value of the flock as 

 regards size, wool, bone and general quality and this report is com- 

 pared with the condition of the animals when the farm was rented 

 or leased. Should it have degenerated a claim is made and allowed 



