Farming of East Lothian. 



299 



With most farmers the practice is to purchase cast-ewes, Cheviot, 

 or half-bred Leicester and Cheviot, in autumn ; these are served 

 with a Leicester tup ; the lambs are fattened afterwards, and the 

 ewes sold during the spring and summer months. 



The sheep fattened are principally Cheviots, Black- faced 

 wethers : also hoggets, crosses betwixt the Leicester and Cheviot, 

 and pure Cheviots. The sheep are generally folded on turnips. 

 In spring these are occasionally cut and put in boxes, especially 

 for hoggets. Linseed and rape cake, beans and oats, are fre- 

 quently given towards the close of the period of fattening: the 

 quantity allowed being generally 1 lb. per day, 6g?. to 9<:/. per 

 week is considered fair payment for keep ; Is., however, is occa- 

 sionally obtained for 10 or 12, or even more, weeks' feeding. 

 The demand for turnips to take for sheep is yearly increasing, 

 the feeding of sheep for several years having been so profitable. 

 Turnips are either taken by the acre or at a fixed rate per week. 

 The rate per week per head is from 4:d. to Id. (average bd.^ 

 for Cheviot and black-faced wethers. When young sheep are 

 fattened they are generally the property of the farmer. These are 

 usually sold in May, June, and July, being kept over the spring 

 months often for the sake of the fleece. 



Three-fifths of the sheep fattened in the county go to English 

 markets. Part are slaughtered at Dunbar, Musselburgh, and 

 Leith, the carcases put into baskets, and consigned to salesmen 

 in London, either by rail or steam-ship. When sheep are sent 

 to manufacturing towns they are forwarded alive. The best 

 qualities, such as Cheviots, and occasionally black-faced wethers, 

 usually bring the top quotations in the London dead markets. 

 Last season a considerable number of black-faced wethers were 

 forwarded alive to Cheltenham."^ When the carcases of black- 

 faced sheep are sent to the English markets, it is usual to allow 

 one or two of the heads to remain attached to the carcase, to 

 show the breed. Lambs are also forwarded to London, &c., but 

 generally alive. 



In sheep, ^as in cattle, the English consumer usually outbids 

 the Scottish for the best qualities. 



The number of sheep fattened on turnips in East Lothian, and 

 sold during the winter months, may be estimated at from 30,000 

 to 35,000 annually. 



The number of sheep fattened partly on turnip and partly on 

 grass, and disposed of fat during the summer and autumn 

 months, is very considerable. These* consist of ewes with their 



* Having this autumn bought a lot of these horned sheep at the Falkirk fair, 

 I found that, though their conveyance cost neai'ly 45. per head by rail, they ^yere 

 yell worth the money on their arrival, and, not being choice about keep, preferring 

 indeed heath at first, are likely to pay well for fattening in Berkshire, besides 

 supplying very superior old mutton for family use.— Ph. Pusey. 



