.60 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH, 



had all the defects attributed to the original stock by Ciflly • They mfght 

 not, however, have been favorable specimens of the breed. 



On the sleep, storm-lashed Cheviot Hills, in the extreme North of Eng 

 .11 nd, this breed first attracted notice for their great hardiness in resisting 





CHEVIOT EWE. 



cold and feeding on coarse heathery herbage. A ttoss with the Leices- 

 ter, pretty generally resorted to, constitutes the improved variety. Ihe 

 characteristics of the Leicester are quite evident in the portrait of tlie 

 Cheviot Ewe, above, copied from Mr. Youatt, 



Professor Low thus speaks of the result of this cross : 



" The Cheviot breed nmnlganiales with the Leicester, and a system of breeding has been 

 extensively inti-oduced for producing the first cross of this descent. The rams employed are 

 of the pure Leicester breed, and the progeny is superior in size, weight of wool, and tenden- 

 cy to fiitten, to the native Clieviot. . . .The itenefit, however, may be said to end with the 

 first cross, and the progeny of this mixed descent is greatly inferior to the pure Leicester 

 in fonn and fattening properties, and to the pure Cheviot in hardiness of constitution. 



Of the imjn-oved Cheviot Mr. Spooner says : 



" This breed has gi-eatly extended itself throughout the mountains of Scotland, and in 

 many instances supplmited the Black-faced breed ; but the change, Uiough in many cases ad- 

 vantageous, has in some instances been (#hervvise, the l-itter being somewhat hardier, and 

 more capable of subsisting on heathy pasturage. They are, however, a hardy race, well 

 suited for their native pastures, beanng with comparative impunity the storms of winter, 

 and thriving well on poor keep. Though less hardy than the black-faced sheep of Scotland^ 

 they are more profitable as respects their feeding, makiiig more flesh on an equal quatitity 

 of food, and making it quicker. They have white faces and legs, open couuteniuices, lively 

 eyes, without horns. The f»ars are large, and somewhat singular, and there is much spate 

 between the ears and eyes. The carcass is long; the back straight; the shoulders rather 

 light ; the ribs circular ; and the quarters good. The legs are small in the bone and cov- 

 ered with wool, as well a.s the body, with the exception of the face. The Cheviot wether 

 is fit for the butcher at three years old, and averages fi-om I'i lbs. to 18 lbs. per quarter — the 

 mattr))) l)eing of a good quatifv, though infeiior to the South-Down, and of less flavor llian 



the Black-faoed The Cheviot, thougli a mountain breed, is quiet and docile, and ea- 



wly managed The wool is^np, (?) closely covers the body, assisting much in prese.'viug it 



• -•*«« Cully ^n Live Stock, p. 150. 



