574 
The Cumberland and Westmoreland 
The return made by Mr. Leatlies to the Board of Trade in June 
gave 1184 sheep above a year old, and 529 Iambs; total, 1713. 
The lower parts of the fells are mountain pasture of a very 
useful quality — a short, soft, sweet turf, not unlike the southern 
" downs." The more elevated portions are of course principally 
heather (which forms the principal food of the sheep in winter), 
mixed with rock, in the crevices of which there is some sweet 
picking of grass. Mr. Leathes says no summer drought or rain 
hurts him, but want of sunshine is injurious. In spring, however, 
the sheep often suffer from dry and cold weather. No hay is 
given them in winter, even in snow.. The hardihood of the 
race may be inferred from this statement, and it seems that, 
given a certain range, the flock have to fight their own battles 
and get their own living as best they can. 
At the April visit of the Reporting Judge lambing was far 
advanced : losses had been small and the lambs were very 
healthy. No better testimony than this could be offered as to 
the strength of the stock. 
It is worthy of remark that Mr. Leathes had not lost any 
ewes from the complaint alluded to in the report of Mr. 
Mounsey's farm, and this he attributes to the use of lime upon 
the land, and he gave me some instances which seemed to 
confirm this assertion. Scab causes considerable loss some- 
times, but great care is exercised, and the sheep are dipped 
frequently. The hoggs get three dippings in the year, viz. in 
March, August, and October or November ; and the whole of 
the mountain stock get dipped in August for the fly, and in 
November for the protection of the wool. Mr. Leathes says 
that dipping is a very important operation with a hill flock, and 
great care is exercised as to the temperature of the bath, the 
period of immersion, and the thorough mixture of proper in- 
gredients.* But dipping is not always practised without fatal 
results, and there were several such cases this spring. The 
dipping is managed in a business-like way, a complete apparatus 
and structure having been erected for the purpose. 
* Mr. Leatlies sa3's, " At the latter period of dipping, viz. in October and 
November, the dip is kept at such a heat (about new-niilk warm, thoun;h I do 
not test it with a thermometer), that we can mix iu it about 4 lbs. of Skinners' 
grease (which costs about 4cZ. a lb.) for every ten sheep. This is done by warming 
the grease over the fire in a large pan, keeping it iu a liquid state, and adding to 
it as it is being put into the dip a small portion of soda, just sufficient to make 
the grease and dipping mix well together. Enough for ten sheep is put into the 
dipping-tub at one time, as they are being passed through it. The greatest art 
is to have suflKcient boiling water to keep the dij) up to a proper heat, otherwise 
the operation is very unsatisfactory. Tlio grease is used instead of 'salving' 
the sheep, a slow process by which only about one sheep can be done in an hour. 
With a staff of eight men and boys wo can dip, accordiug to the wa)' described, 
upwards of GOO in eight hours." 
