Farming of Cumberland. 



203 



the commons maintained, and the weight of mutton and wool to 

 be considerably increased, and the quality of the latter very much 

 improved by the introduction of superior breeds and crosses. 



The improved Leicester sheep are now bred with great care 

 and attention, and great prices * given for rams on many farms 

 in various parts of the county ; and, though possessed of good 

 qualities as a breed, the mutton of the Leicester ewe is at this 

 time (February, 1852) worth less money per pound than that 

 of any other kind of sheep. There are small flocks of South 

 Downs in a few hands ; these are kept chiefly to rear tups from, 

 for crossing the mountain ewes with, when those are bought by 

 the low-country farmers for rearing fat lambs. The issue of this 

 cross is preferred before all others for the shambles, and is very 

 hardy and of excellent fattening qualities. Cheviot sheep are 

 bred on several farms of the higher district between the river 

 Irthing and the Kershope. A few years ago the late Mr. Salkeld 

 tried the Cheviots on the higher regions of Crossfell,"!' above 

 his farm of Ranbeck, in the parish of Kirkland, but the experi- 

 ment failed. 



Trials on a small scale have been made with the Cheviots on 

 the mountains in different parts of the county, but none have 

 succeeded. Very probably they found the pasture too closely 

 occupied with a hardier and more " fendy " (active) race. 



A great majority of the sheep fed on the arable farms are of 

 the Cheviot breed, or of the Leicester and Cheviot cross; and a 

 part are the useful, but clumsy-looking, mule breed between the 

 Leicester tup and the black-faced highland ewe. Most of these 

 are reared in Scotland, and brought here at different ages (mostly 

 in lamb) by dealers, who expose them for sale in the different 

 fairs and markets. Some of the larger feeders go to make their 

 own selections, and spare the dealers' profit. Many thousands 

 are annually fed beyond the wants of consumption within the 

 county, and the surplus taken by the owners or by dealers to 

 Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, &c. 



The black-faced mountain sheep, bred from and resembling 

 the Highland stock, occupies nearly the whole of the Crossfell 

 and Blackfell range (as the western front of the mountains north 



* 15Z. to 27Z. in 1851. 



t The herbage there (on the limestone) is sweet, the aspect southerly, and the - 

 whole apparently favourable for establishing a better breed than the common 

 mountain sheep. A shepherd attended the flock constantly, and pains were taken 

 to heaf them on the most likely part of the mountain, but all in vain. Every 

 morning they were found at the fell-gate ; and if the shepherd quitted his charge 

 at any time during the day, they immediately left their pasture and followed him 

 down to the walls. So utter a dislike had the flock to the tell, or to the sheep 

 they found there, that after a long and patient trial, it was found hopeless to 

 contend longer, and the attempt was given up as conclusive against their being;^ 

 established there. 



VOL. XIII. 



T 



