SHEEP 169 



farmer ; on the 7th of Maj' in that year there was neither vegetation 

 in the folds nor blossom on the fruit trees, and the skins of 1000 lambs 

 which had perished during the spring were sold in Kendal. 



The Warton Crag or Silverdale breed of sheep, known also as the 

 Limestones, was one of the most distinctive breeds of sheep in the county 

 at the commencement of the century, though it, too, had intermixed, 

 though to a less degree with the common Black-faced breed. They are 

 dismissed in three lines by John Holt in his report to the Board of Agri- 

 culture in 1794, he writes : " There is also a breed called the Warton or 

 Silverdale cragg sheep, which is much esteemed for the fine flavour of 

 its flesh, fineness of its wool, and tendency to fatten." Fortunately, 

 Pringle in his report at the same date, describes them among the 

 Westmorland sheep as occup5nng a small district of limestone fells 

 in the neighbourhood of Milnthorpe, Burton, and Holme. " They are 

 homed, white-faced, and close wooled. They are said to be native, 

 and are much superior to the common sort in regard both to fleece 

 and carcase. At a sale in October, 1793, lambs brought 10/7 a piece, 

 dimmonds 17/1, ewes three and a half years old 17/6 or 17/8." 



" Towards the borders of Westmorland," writes Youatt in 

 1837, " the Silverdale breed of sheep are found. They are natives of 

 that part of the country, and singularly confined to it. It is a homed 

 breed, with white faces and legs, depasturing on the rocky limestone 

 land. The wool is long and white and the sheep fattens well." 



In 1851 Jonathan Binns describes them as occupying " the 

 limestone district surrounding Warton Crag and extending to Silver- 

 dale and Farlton Knott and the surrounding neighbourhood, the 

 herbage of which is short and fine ; they are principally homed, and 

 have white faces and legs, and are an active, hardy race. When fat 

 they weigh from 16 lbs. to 20 lbs. a quarter ; the fleece weighs 5 lbs. 

 to 6 lbs., and is worth lod. to i/- per lb. They are excellent milkers 

 and produce good lambs." 



Professor Wallace says : " The breed is horned, very hardy and 

 active, and admirably suited to mountain climbing. ... It 

 possesses a noble carriage, and the face, legs and wool are white. From 

 time immemorial it has changed little in its characteristics, which have 

 been acquired from its environment. The ewes are most prolific, 

 and they resemble the Dorset horn breed in coming in season much 

 earlier than other ewes." 



