DOMESTIC BBEEBS OF SHEEP. 41 
of quality has been emphasized, and to-day the purebred Leicester is 
no longer common in England. Flocks are still to be found, however, 
in East and North Yorkshire, Cheshire, Cumberland, Durham, and 
Leicestershire. Because of their value in crossing and the important 
part that they have played in establishing the ovine breeds, it is to be 
hoped that they will not be entirely lost in crossing upon other breeds. 
The Border Leicester is sometimes considered a type of the English 
or New Leicester, but there are differences enough to justify it being 
classed as a distinct breed, and this has been done in Britain. The 
origin of this breed is debatable. In 1767 George and Matthew 
Culley, friends of Bake well, established themselves upon a farm at 
Fenton, near Wo oiler, among the Cheviot Hills. They took some of 
BakewelTs improved stock with them, and some authorities claim 
that this was crossed upon the Teeswater sheep in the establishment 
of the new breed, while others claim that the Cheviot entered as a 
foundation stock. At any rate, the breed is now established in 
Northumberland, Yorkshire, Durham, and Lothian. 
The principal differences between the Border and Bake well types 
are as follows : The head of the former is clean cut, covered with short 
white hair, and entirely free from wool. The 'face is white and the 
ears are carried erect. The features of the latter are not so sharply 
defined; they are slightly wooled about the top of the head, and the 
wool carries down farther upon their legs. Their face has a bluish 
tinge,- and they are not so neat about the middle as the Border type. 
The improved mutton qualities of the Border Leicester have 
greatly aided it in replacing the older type. Its adaptability to 
conditions hi northern England and southern Scotland have caused 
it to be called the " mainstay of farming" in the border counties. 
The rams are very popular here for crossing upon Cheviot ewes. 
Bakewell, or Dishley, Leicesters were introduced into America 
before the Revolutionary War. Records show that Washington 
used rams of this breed in improving his flock at Mount Vernon, 
which at. one time amounted to 800 head. Purebred Bakewell ewes 
were also brought over, for when Washington's flock was dispersed 
in 1802 George Washington Custis purchased three of these animals. 
The Arlington Longwools, famous in early American sheep history, 
were developed by the latter gentleman, who followed Washington's 
plan of breeding the "Persian" sheep of the neighborhood to im- 
prove Leicester rams. The Arlington flock made steady progress 
until eclipsed by the Merino. After the advent of the latter they 
were no longer bred pure to any considerable extent. Some of the 
sheep of the South, especially the Tennessee mountain variety, 
resemble these, and it is not improbable that they have descended 
from them. 
