MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 137 



and mountain ash. Our way lies along the 

 "grassing-heads" running parallel to the valley, 

 but high above it. Coming through these, 

 rushes prevail, and hidden springs. Among 

 the leaves the gad-flies rest, and grasshoppers 

 make harmony with the hidden water. Then 

 we come into scrub of oak, birch, and hazel. 

 Flies abound, and a few birds. 



From what has been said of the farms of 

 the fell dales, it will be seen that wool is 

 one of the chief products of the 'States- 

 men. Among the many quaint buildings of 

 the hill folds, one is usually set apart as the 

 wool-loft. And it is deplorable to have to 

 record that many of these, even the teeming 

 barns themselves, are full of wool, the produce 

 of many seasons' " clips." For the hill-farmer 

 has felt depression in trade as well as his 

 southern neighbour, though in a different way. 

 Some of the yeomen say that they have four, 

 five, even six years' wool harvests in their barns, 

 and cannot sell it at present prices. 



We have said that time was when the wives 

 and daughters of the 'Statesmen spun the wool, 

 and wove it into cloth. This was done in 

 almost every house, and by this light labour the 



