DZ FIELD AND TERN. 



lias done well with his Dorset ewes ; but Mr. Dud- 

 geon of Almond Hill (who was the first to introduce 

 furrow draining into Sutherland and Caithness-shire, 

 where he held large farms in succession) did not suc- 

 ceed w^ith his merinoes, as the ewes were too delicate, 

 and although he sold some 401b. lambs at a shilling 

 per pound live weight, he did not care to renew the 

 experiment. 



The system of blackfaced Ochil ewe drafts on the 

 higher ground is ra,ther going out, and instead of 

 "breeding the greyfaced mules, the farmers are nearly 

 all turning to half-bred ewes and Cheviots. They 

 sometimes keep the lambs for sixteen or eighteen 

 months, but they are generally sold off before clip- 

 ping. Mr. Dudgeon of Dalmeny, near Kirkhston, 

 got 56s. last year for 100 highly-corned and caked 

 ewe and wedder hoggs ; but this was in the golden- 

 fleece era, and in ordinary seasons 46s. to 48s. was 

 not to be despised. Those farmers who do not 

 breed, buy half-bred lambs, generally tops, at Mel- 

 rose and Lockerby, and sell them off fat about home 

 <j>ut of the fleece in June. They will buy these 

 lambs at 28s., and pay 38s. for Cheviot wedders the 

 next month, and with eight months^ high feeding 

 they can bring the one up as high as 52s. to 56s., 

 and the others to 56s. or £3, and hence the balance is 

 against the wedders, which some also consider to re- 

 quire more food. With such a heavy opposition 

 from young mutton, it seems more than probable 

 that the Cheviot wedders will have shortly to sink a 



