PROPERTIES OF LEICESTERS 153 



The Border Leicester. History. The Border Leicester was 

 developed by the Cully brothers, who lived near Wooler, in the east- 

 ern part of the border country between England and Scotland. In 

 their community there was a popular long-wooled breed known as 

 the Teeswater, from which they selected ewes and mated them with 

 Bakewell rams. They continued to use Leicester rams until they 

 established a flock of Leicesters of a type which has become known 

 as the Border Leicester. 



Description. According to Wrightson, the Border Leicester is 

 " larger and longer than the English Leicester, and the belly is not 

 quite so full in outline, being carried rather the more lightly " and 

 adding to the appearance of legginess. But the most noticeable dif- 

 ferences between the two are to be seen in the head, which in the 

 B'order Leicester is free from wool, clear-white, bold and carried 

 high. The nose is aquiline, the muzzle large, the nostrils wide, and 

 the ears erect. As a whole the Border Leicester is of bolder and 

 more stylish appearance than the English Leicester. 



Properties of Leicesters. None but capable, painstaking sheep- 

 men should attempt to keep Leicesters, for they are not adapted to 

 shifting for themselves over rough ground without an abundance of 

 feed and without protection from the rougher elements of the 

 weather. They are lacking in fecundity, although under good care 

 one hundred per cent lamb crops can be raised and the lambs grow 

 rapidly. 



Mutton from pure-bred Leicesters tends to be coarse, lacking in 

 flavor and too fat. It is best when procured from lambs six to eight 

 months old, for then the fat is not so excessive nor the joints or cuts 

 so large. 



For the purpose of producing fat lambs Leicesters cross well 

 with Merinos. The lambs grow much faster and develop more ex- 

 ternal fat than the pure Merino. This cross was first tried in 

 France and from it was developed the Dishley Merino, a hardy 

 sheep with desirable mutton properties. This same cross has since 

 been frequently made in North America, South America, Australia, 

 and New Zealand for the purpose of producing lambs for market. 

 In some regions Leicesters are crossed with the Down mutton 

 breeds, the result being growthy, easy-feeding lambs, good enough in 

 quality of flesh to give satisfaction as a mutton product. 



In North England and South Scotland the Border Leicester- 

 Cheviot cross is favorably regarded for producing a hardy and 



