578 
The Cumberland and Westmoreland 
ascending the Keswick road to the main portion of the occu- 
pation, the mountain sheep-run, where Mr. Mounsej keeps 
his Herdwick flock. A mile or two of steep ascent from the 
village brings us to this land and to the farmhouse of Darling 
How, which belongs to it. A path here follows a small stream 
into the heart of a mountain solitude so profoundly quiet that a 
hermit might choose it for his abode. The mountain slopes 
descend immediately to the banks of the brawling beck, and on 
them Mr. Mounsey's flock find their pasturage. The mountain 
descends on the south side to the Keswick road, and the ex- 
tremely steep and rough sides of Whinlatter, which bounds the 
turnpike-road for some distance, are part of the sheep-run, which 
is divided into two principal enclosures of 247 and 213 acres 
respectively. This part is little more than a slope of slaty 
debris, so steep that it looks as if it might overwhelm the road ; 
but in these rocks and crevices the best sheep often seek their 
pasturage. 
The glen where the farmhouse is situated is cut off from all 
other communication with the world than by the lane which 
leads to it ; and on the lower slopes are some improved en- 
closures varying from 15 to 30 acres, the mountain-run reaching 
an elevation of 1700 feet. 
The total area of the farm is 750 acres, of which 50 acres 
are valley land, and the remainder hill of a very varying 
description. There is no arable land. It is held on a yearly 
tenure, and has l^een in Mr. Mounsey's occupation only four 
years. 
A few cows are kept at the buildings at home, and some calves 
reared, and some Irish stock is also grazed ; but there is nothing 
particularly worthy of notice, and the sole interest of the farm, 
beyond the beauty of the valley, is in the Herdwick flock. 
About GOO ewes are kept. The exact number put to the tup 
last winter was 604, and besides these Mr. Mounsey had 30 
young sheep and 10 " bred " ewes. The system here is different 
from Mr. Leathes'. Mr. Mounsey maintains his flock by buying 
drafts from other breeders. Mr. Leathes breeds his own. Mr. 
Mounsey, of course, under this system, only obtains " shots," and 
his flock suffers in character accordingly. 
The ewes run on the mountain summer and winter, and lam 
there also. They get a bit of hay in very bad winters, but it is 
not often that they require any help. The usual crop of lambs 
does not exceed 450, and this year it did not even come up to tha'^ 
number by 30 or more. There were very few twins, and when an 
ewe lost her lamb, she had to go for " geld " (barren), which is 
terribly against profit. " Geld " ewes are not liked for breeding 
purposes after. They seldom do well the next year. 
