12 
Irish Agriculture. 
introduced into Donegal, Connemara, and other mountainous 
parts of the west of Ireland. The flocks consist of the Cheviot 
and also of the blackfaced breed. I consider the latter much 
better adapted than the Cheviot breed for Irish mountain pas- 
tures, as these lack the grassiness of the Scotch mountains, and are 
also of a more spongy nature, which even surface-draining does not 
alwavs counteract, although it certainly effects a vast improvement 
in the nature of the pasture. Having at different times seen 
crosses produced by the Lonk ram with the Scotch blackfaced 
ewe, exhibited at shows of the Highland and Agricultural 
Society — more especially at the Stirling meeting in 1864 and 
the Inverness meeting in 1865 — I am of opinion that a similar 
cross deserves to be taken into consideration bv those who have 
blackfaced flocks in Ireland. The wool of the Lonk cross is much 
superior in quality, and I might almost say weight, of fleece, 
to that of the blackfaced breed, while the cross is equally hardv, 
and loses nothing of the rich flavour which distinguishes black- 
faced mutton. I have seen some extraordinary specimens of 
Lonk wedders exhibitetl by Mr. Jonathan Peel, at the London 
Christmas Club .Shows, which seemed to indicate that the Lonks 
are more inclined to early maturity than the Scotch blackfaced 
breed. These are all considerations of importance, and worth 
testing in actual practice. 
When we examine the description of sheep found in possession 
of the ordinary class of farmers on the arable lands of Ireland, 
we find that they are for the most part inclined to be coarse, and 
there is a want of quality and " character "' about them. There 
is no better index to the character of a sheep, or, in fact, of any 
animal, than the head, and in the heads of the common class of 
sheep in Ireland there is frequently a certain degree of " sourness," 
which indicates an animal deficient in the desirable quality of 
early maturity. The want of " character " is shown bv the 
dissimilarity which exists even in the same flock ; and it need 
scarcely be said that a strong family likeness is certain proof 
that a good system has been followed in breeding the flock. 
This want of character I am inclined to attribute in d great 
measure to neglect of proper selection, extending not merely to 
the rams used in the flock, but also to the ewes retained for 
breedinjj. There is also another reason, namelv. a frequent and 
often injudicious intermingling of blood. For instance, a person 
who has been in the habit of using a common ram, descended in 
some degree from the Leicester breed, sees in the papers a letter 
recommending the Lincoln, and he forthwith gets a Lincoln ram. 
After using him for a time, the great size of some show Cotswolxls 
attracts his attention, and he gets a Cotswold ; and in this way 
