ANOTHER TALE OF ABCADY. 51 



so by consolidating small holdings where family 

 interests were identical. In this way, there 

 are numerous small farms worth £100, £200, 

 £300 annually ; while a few more extensive ones 

 command a rental of from £500 to £700. Some 

 of the large sheep-farms now embrace whole 

 villages, and are from one to five thousand acres 

 in extent. A number of small farms at from £60 

 to £70 remain, but these are comparatively rare. 

 In most cases the 'Statesman's holding was 

 essentially a sheep-farm. He had right of 

 "heaf" for four or five hundred sheep upon 

 the Common. The times of lambing in spring, 

 of washing in the fell " becks," and of shearing 

 in late June, were among the events of the 

 year. The sheep were of the hardy Herd- 

 wick breed, climbing to the bleak fell -tops at 

 the coming of the snow ; and in this was their 

 safety. They were rarely buried in drifts, 

 and were clever at scratching away snow to 

 get at the hidden herbage. The 'Statesman's 

 daughters spun the wool of his own sheep, and 

 from this the clothing of the family was made 

 at home. Spinning-wheels are occasionally 

 still used, but are oftener found stowed away 

 in the lumber-loft. 



