102 Saddle and Sirloin. 



for a bit of dead bracken. In a storm they are excel- 

 lent generals, forming themselves into solid squares on 

 the most exposed part of the hill until it sweeps past, 

 and then trying to trample down the snow by a com- 

 bined movement* 



If the wethers are left till they are four or five years 

 old with only mountain fare, they will average about 

 I2lbs. a quarter and the ewes from 81bs. to iolbs. 

 " The better end " of the former are generally sold out 

 at from 2$s. to 30^., whereas a few years since, 1/. was 

 quite a " rest-and-be-thankful " price. The fleeces 

 have also moved with the times, and are no longer 

 such a curious compound of coarse grey hair and 



* From the end of July till November is the most cheery time for the 

 flock-master. The nip of winter begins about Martinmas, and it is 

 always the first, and often the middle of June, before the grass is ready. 

 Hence it is no wonder that Herdwick maturity is a thing of slow growth. 

 On the higher fells the ewes have no lambs until they are three years old, 

 or ' ' showing" (to use the Fell Dales term) ' ' more than four broad teeth. " 

 They are generally drawn by hundreds, according to their fleece or bone, 

 so as to suit each tup, and are put to as late as possible, so as not to 

 lamb much before May-day, when they are brought off the fell and sent 

 back again with their lambs at the end of three weeks. Except at 

 lambing and tupping times, wethers and ewes range together ; and the 

 gimmers in the intakes are carefully "clothed up." If 560 lambs can 

 be got from 600 ewes it is a great matter of congratulation. The lambs 

 suck until October 4th, and are then taken to the lower ground, and 

 after receiving their " hogg" title with the butter and tar, they are sent 

 away to milder climates for the winter, Arable farmers will take them 

 in at 35. 6d. per head up till March 25th, but as it is such an especial point 

 to place them out near the sea, prices will run up to five or six shillings. 

 They are stationed all along the coast from St. Bees' rocks, southwards 

 to Ulverston, but still many flock-masters only send their "tops" and 

 "tails," and let the " middles" take their chance on the intakes. The 

 sickness from which the hoggs suffer, and for which "a change to the 

 salt water" seems the only cure, is like blackwater in calves, and of all 

 durations from half an hour to two days. 



The choice of the cast ewes does not depend so much on age as on 

 selection and the wants of the customer, and they will vary from 20s. to 

 23J., but a great many are sold for 17s. or iSs. For a picked lot of 

 twenty in a dear time as much as 30^. has been got. Many of them go 

 off into the lower enclosed commons about Lorton, Wythop, Embleton, 

 &c, which have been well limed and drained ; and the lambs, of which 

 they have sometimes three crops by a Leicester, will make their i61bs. 



