EDINBURGH TO THE ROMAN CAMP. 71 



and Son of Alloa^ for lialf-breds and Cheviots for 

 hosiery and Alloa stocking yarn ; Abercromby and 

 Co. of Stowe Mills, near Galashiels, for Southdown 

 and Cheviot for tartan shawls; Charles Yfilson and 

 Sons of Earlston were looking after Cheviot, crosses, 

 and blackfciced for blankets ; and. local dealers for 

 all sorts, and a bargain if it could be had. 



"Lot 1, 3 sheets f first picky markj b — Skin Wool C./' 

 "was the opening entry of the maiden catalogue. The 

 first biddings were not up to the reserve price, 

 and tbe lot was withdrawn, and sold that afternoon 

 at Is. 4d. to Mr. Joshua Hall. For Lot 2, " Fliped 

 Hogg C," Mr. Baines of Bradford drew first blood, 

 and at the same price. At the second sale, Mr. 

 Varley of Stanningley bought largely of all kinds, and 

 the result convinced Mr. Girdwood that half-bred 

 crosses, which had been sold hitherto at a price half 

 way between Cheviot and Blackfaced wool, would 

 come close up to the half-bred, as they have done. 



To master that catalogue and all its phrases is no 

 light effort. " Smyrna Britch" speaks, in a measure, 

 for itself as skirts, or the coarse hairy parts of Smyrna 

 fleece, and "-B A Bonne f as fine dark Buenos Ayres ; 

 while " Capes " are from the Cape of Good Hope. 

 There is more significance in "Brokes/' or broken 

 wools of all kinds ; " Fallen^' are fl,eeces gathered on 

 the hills from dead sheep ; and " Burrs'' are wool- 

 balls adhering to that prickle. After that our troubles 

 begin, and it does require some effort of pencil or 

 memory to master that " Noils" signify sbort wool 



