598 



SHEEP 



ever natives of any other region." The British Wool Society 

 over a century ago did much to popularize the breed, and at one 

 time it became generally distributed over Scotland. The improve- 

 ment of the Cheviot was gradually brought about by the breeders 

 in general, although Mr. Robson of Belford, from 1757 on, by 

 the use of Lincolnshire rams is credited with being the great 

 constructive Cheviot breeder of the eighteenth century. Douglas, 



Fig. 280. The old home of James Robson, Philhope, Yetholm, Scotland, where 

 important early constructive breeding of the Cheviot took place. From photo- 

 graph by the author 



in 1798, states 1 that to remedy low and thin shoulders three 

 farmers — John Edmistoun of Mindram, James Robson of Phil- 

 hope, and Charles Ker of Riccaltoun — w^ent to Lincolnshire 

 " about forty years ago " and bought fourteen white-faced rams, 

 and through these marked improvements were secured in their 

 flocks. During the nineteenth century Thomas Elliott of Under 

 Hindhope, Jedburgh, and his son John were very famous breeders 

 and improvers. 



1 Reverend Robert Douglas, General Vievf of the Agriculture in the Counties 

 of Roxburgh and Selkirk, 1798. 



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