266 



Farming of Cumberland. 



sheep belonging to each flock are given, showing the ear-marks, 

 the tar-letter, and the position and colour of the wool-marks of 

 each owner so distinctly, that by reference to the book no mistake 

 need be made as to ownership, so long as the sheep retains the 

 original marks, in whatever part of the county it may be found, 

 if it belongs to the district embraced by the book. One or more 

 books are bought by individuals, or by subscription, into each 

 valley, and by their aid stray sheep are easily restored to their 

 proper owners, at the fairs and other periodical gatherings of 

 the flocks. 



The Shepherd's Dog. 



In all mountain sheep farms the shepherd's dog acts a very 

 prominent part, and especially on the rocky mountains of Cum- 

 berland, where travelling is difficult at all times, even to the iron- 

 shod shepherd, but most so in frost and snow, when hundreds of 

 acres which the shepherd ought daily to inspect may be so slip- 

 pery and dangerous as to greatly limit his excursions. Though 

 at all times the dog's services are indispensable, on such emer- 

 gencies he will sometimes do the work of twenty persons in 

 patiently bringing down the sheep from places almost inaccessible 

 to man under any condition. 



The Cumberland sheep-dog is in no way deficient in intelli- 

 gence and sagacity, but may compete with his congeners of any 

 country ; and, though the usual selling price of a dog of ordinary 

 qualifications does not range higher than 2O5. to 405., there are 

 many shepherds who would make almost any sacrifice short of 

 life rather than part with a good dog at any price. One or more 

 sheep, and even a cow, have been offered and refused. In fact, 

 first-rate sheep-dogs are not to be bought. They may be reared 

 or bought young, and may turn out well, but no shepherd of 

 standing will dispose of his favourite on any terms ; and even 

 when broken down by adversity, the dog is the last chattel the 

 storms of life compel a feeling man to part with, and then not 

 without evident sorrow. 



Well might a popular writer say, " Without the shepherd's 

 dog, the mountainous land in England and Scotland would not 

 be worth sixpence. It would require more hands to manage a 

 flock of sheep, gather them from the hills, force them into houses 

 and folds, and drive them to market, than the profits of the whole 

 would be capable of maintaining." And though this may be 

 more true as regards the wild and headstrong black-faced sheep 

 of the Scottish mountains, it is also correct as applied to our own ; 

 and most of the difficulties of gathering and driving will vanish 

 in the presence of a really good dog. The sheep seem to know, 

 as if by instinct, before they have been many minutes under the 



