570 = 5(?4 
Practical Agriculture. 
ness, Beattock, Hawick, St. Boswell's, Kelso, and Brough Hi 
High figures are made for Cheviot rams, which are largely us. 
for crossing with the Border Leicester, the breeds being mixi 
in different proportions according to the altitude and tempei 
ture of the district. Among the principal breeders may 
named Mr. Aitchison, of Lynhope ; Mr. Bryden, of Kennelhea' 
Messrs. Carruthers, of Kirkhill ; Mr. Elliot, of Hindhope ; A 
Johnstone, of Cappelgill; Mr. John Robson, of Otterburn, {|| 
Elack-faces. Black-faced, JJeat/i, or Scotch Mountain Sheep. — It is ni 
certain whether this breed was imported from some foreiN 
country to Ettrick Forest by a Scottish king (as tradition relate ' 
or whether it is due to an improvement of the ancient " du 
faces," with brown or tawny hair on their faces and legs, wi 
light forequarters and long tails, which were at one time t 
most prevalent sheep in Scotland. The Black-faces attained 
their present character and high degree of improvement 
Lanarkshire and the south-west of Scotland. They prevail al 
on the higher grounds in the West Highlands and in the midla 
districts of Scotland ; and, though Cheviots have displaced tht 
to a considerable extent, they are still best adapted, by thi 
constitution and peculiar instincts and habits, to the loftiest a 
bleakest sheep-walks, being found by the mountain tarns a 
peat-bogs at great altitudes, where the herbage is of the coarsi 
ilescription, where the storms are furious, the snows deep, a 
Points. ^^^^ severe. Both sexes have horns. The horns of t 
ram are of large size, arched, and springing well out from t 
head, each making two spiral twists, inclining outward, dow 
ward, and forward ; the horns of the ewe are not spirally twist( 
but flat, and are turned clear of the side of the head. The f; 
and legs are black, or black and white, one or other colour p 
dominating, instead of equal patches of both. The face is lo 
and clean, the muzzle is free Irom wool, and a Roman profile 
preferred ; the eyes are full of life and fire ; the ears are moc 
rately long ; the shoulders being high, the neck is sometin 
too low as well as long ; the back is rather short, and t 
breadth is not great nor are the ribs particularly well sprun 
the frame is deep, and the hindquarter is well-shaped and ful 
The character of the fleece is the reverse of that of otl 
mountain breeds ; for instead of being short, close-set, and fi ■ 
in staple, the wool is long, soft, open, and waved ; coming !• 
down on the thighs and forelegs, so that a ram's wool liar 
within two or three inches of the ground. It is free from bl.i 
spots and " kemps," or hard, wiry, white hairs, which ; 
destitute of the felting property of wool. The quality 
coarse, and it is used principally in the manufacture of carpi 
The fleece commonly weighs 3i lbs. or 4 lbs. The wethers 
