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and rams 7 or 8 Ib. Ewes do best when they lamb for the first 

 time at three years old. Hoggs from some farms are wintered in 

 the low country at a cost of 5$. to 5$. 6d. each, but on very high 

 exposed places they are hardier and do better after, if wintered at 

 home on hay. When wool became very low in price in 1901-02, 

 the breed was threatened with extinction as the balance got on the 

 wrong side of the animal accounts. 



On Black Hall Farm, at the head of Duddon Valley in Cumber- 

 land, Herdwick ewes are from time to time found with 1.4 ribs on 

 each side, or 14 on one and 13 on the other, in place of the normal 

 number, 13 on each side. 



THE WELSH MOUNTAIN SHEEP. Characteristics of the Breed. 

 The distinguishing characteristics of the pure Welsh sheep are 

 a yellow face and legs, a long, strong, and bushy tail, short, fine, 

 thick white wool, in which kemp may appear in moderate amount. 

 The finest parts of the fleece are made into Welsh shawls and 

 woollen goods. The body is usually narrow, descending towards 

 the shoulder. The rams have curved horns, while the ewes are 

 generally hornless. The restless activity of the breed makes it 

 difficult to restrain by fences. It can without difficulty jump a 

 six-foot rough dry-stone wall. 



The mutton in the Smithfield Market is of the finest quality, 

 and is classed with Scotch Mountain mutton and that of the South- 

 down. The pure-bred Welsh carcass does not exceed 28 to 32 Ib., 

 but improved varieties run up to 36 and 40 Ib., and on good pas- 

 tures four-year-old wethers weigh up to 50 Ib. 



Mountain flocks graze on the hills from April to November, 

 but come down to the lower land during the winter months for 

 shelter and food. The ewes are cast at four years old and crossed, 

 usually with a Shropshire ram, with the object of producing fat 

 lambs for the May market. 



The Welsh Mountain Sheep Breeders' Association and Flock 

 Book Society was formed in 1905 and the first volume appeared 

 in 1906. 



THE KERRY HILL (WELSH) SHEEP. The Kerry Hill (Welsh) 

 breed is the best of a number of recently formed breeds of Welsh 

 sheep. It derives its name from the Kerry Hills in Montgomery- 

 shire, although flocks exist in Radnor, Hereford, Salop, Worcester, 

 Denbigh, Brecon and Cheshire. The foundation stock of the Kerry 

 Hill breed was described in the Agricultural Survey of Wales 100 

 years ago as the only sheep which produces perfect wool, that of 

 every other Welsh breed being more or less mixed with kemp. 



