554 = 255 
Practical Agriculture. 
Weight of 
mutton and 
wool. 
Border 
Leicesters. 
Points. 
but not wide, and tapering to the rump, which is small ; thi 
back is covered with fat. An authority in the ' Field ' describee 
the head as well set on, the forehead flat and generally bare, o 
covered with short hair. " Formerly," he says, " a great poin 
was made of bare heads ; but now we believe breeders prefer ti 
have short close wool, which protects from the fly. The eye i 
full and prominent, indicating docility of disposition, and th 
head is tolerably long and fine ; the ears are thin and rather long 
and the muscular development is moderate ; this is attributabl 
to rapidity of growth. The legs of mutton are not large, am 
there is a deficiency of lean meat. The skin is thin and ver 
supple, and the wool is fine and fairly long. With a wonderfi 
capacity for external and rapid development, there is littl 
inside fat ; hence Leicesters are not favourites with the butcher: 
Their great merit is their early development and accumulatio 
of weight on a given quantity of food." 
The Leicester wethers at 15 months old commonly weig 
20 lbs. a quarter ; but older animals, when well fatted, hav 
occasionally been exhibited of more than three times th: 
weight. The mutton is not so highly esteemed as some, owin 
to the unusual superabundance of fat ; but the flesh of goo 
Leicester crosses has a delicious flavour, with a more agreeab 
distribution of fat and lean. The average weight of the flee( 
may be about 7 lbs. to 8 lbs., varying with the character < 
Leicesters found in different districts. 
Among the most noted Leicester breeders at the present tin 
are — Mr. George Turner, of Brampford - Speke, Exeter; M 
George Turner, junior, of Thorpelands, Northampton ; Mr. R. V 
Cresswell, of Ravenstone, Ashby-de-la-Zouch ; Mr. John Borto 
of Barton-le-Street, Malton ; Mr. William Brown, of Hohne-o 
Spalding-Moor, Yorkshire ; Mr. T. H. Hutchinson, of Cattericl 
the Earl of Lonsdale, Mr. Benjamin Painter, of Oakham ; Mi 
Perry Herrick, of Beau INIanor Park, Loughl^orough ; 
Thomas Marris, of Croxton, Ulceby, Lincolnshire. 
Boi'der Leicesters. — While a variety of the Leicester bree 
known as Mug Leicesters, rather long-legged, and of a ban 
constitution adapted to the moors, is found in Yorkshire, ai 
other descriptions of Leicester exist in other parts of t 
kingdom, the most noted and valuable branch from the pi 
Leicesters is the kind denominated " Barmshire " or " Bore 
Leicester," from its pertaining to the border counties of INorl 
umberland, Berwick, and Roxburgh. They are of large si 
high-standing, and long, with clean white faces and legs, 
cording to Mr. John Usher, they possess, when well bred, t 
following points: the head of lair size, with profile slij:h 
aquiline, tapering to the muzzle, but with strength oi jaw a 
