132 Sheep-Farming 



The Cheviot (Fig. 24, PL IX) 



The conditions for which the Cheviot breed has 

 been developed are such as to render it adapted to 

 sections much different from those described for the 

 breeds already discussed. The Cheviot Hills, from 

 which the breed derives its name, are a range of 

 beautiful conical mountains, lying mainly in Nor- 

 thumberland County, England, and Roxbury County, 

 Scotland. Only one of the summits is higher than 

 2000 feet, so, while the breed is at home in a broken 

 and uneven country, it cannot be called, in the true 

 sense, a mountain breed. The vegetation of the 

 area is varied and often extends to the top of the 

 mountains. The crops produced on the lower parts 

 are used in wintering the flocks. Sheep are the main 

 product and reliance, and more are reared than can 

 be prepared for market at home. There is a wide 

 trade in stock to go to richer farming sections for 

 fattening. "Cast" ewes, or five-years-olds, are 

 commonly sold into the feeding sections to be bred 

 to rams of other breeds and be prepared for market 

 at about the same time as their lambs. 



The stock from which the Cheviot was developed 

 has existed in the section for as long a time as is 

 covered by the records of British agricultural affairs. 

 As this country was the meeting ground of the contend- 

 ing and marauding border chieftains, the sheep were 

 little improved and imperfectly cared for until more 



