SHEEP 



173 



their first introduction dating back to about 1880, they now total 

 upwards of 2000. 



Other pure breeds of sheep kept in the county in small numbers 

 are : Border-Leicesters, Leicesters, Southdowns, Lincolns, and Shrop- 

 shires — the sale of tups from each for crossing purpose giving a 

 profitable return. 



A great feature in the farming in the Eden Valley and to a lesser 

 extent in the Lune Valley and on the better land to the south of 

 Kendal, is the large number of sheep which are fattened each year 

 on turnips — Scotch and other Black-faced breeds and Cheviots being 

 bought in thousands for this purpose at the annual autumn sales. 



Wool. — In the Lancaster Gazette, June 23rd, 1804, the following 

 notice appeared : — 



To Growers of Wool. — The manufacturers of Kendal, Keswick, etc., having 

 been much injured by the unlawful winding or rolling and mixing of wool, have 

 resolved to prosecute all persons guilty of any of these ofiences. 



" Notice to all growers of Wool. — Whereas by an Act of Parliament made 

 in the 28th year of George the Third, it is enacted that if any person, in winding 

 or rolling up their fleeces of wool, do put in the same any locks, pelt wool, tar, 

 sand, skitt, stones, earth, grass, or any dirt whereby the fleece may be made 

 heavier ; or do mix any unwashed fleeces, to sell with the washed ones, to the deceit 

 and loss of the buyer, he or she shall forfeit and pay two shillings for every such 

 fleece so adulterated, to the person who shall discover and inform of the fraud. 

 We, therefore, the Woollen Manufacturers of Kendal, Keswick and places 

 adjacent, finding that we have sustained great loss by the above practices, have 

 mutually resolved to prosecute all such offenders against the above law, as we can 

 discover. By order of the manufacturers of the above place." 



The immediate effect of this notice is not recorded, but in 1821 

 a farmer was fined £5, being at the rate of 2/- per fleece, the prosecutors 

 being Messrs. Wilson, Simpson and Ireland, of Kendal. The Act 

 is still in force, but no prosecutions have taken place in Westmorland 

 for many years. 



Milnthorpe started a wool fair at the Station Inn in 1850 on 

 July I2th, when one buyer paid nearly £1000 for wool, which brought 

 from gd. to i/- per lb. ; the fair, however, soon declined. 



The first wool and cheese fair to be held in Kendal was in 1853, 

 when 17 carts of wool were shown. It was held three times a year 



