August 23, 1883. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
173 
you appear to have been aware of, and they certainly would have been read 
in a manner you did not intend. It is gratifying to us to perceive you speak 
in such high terms of the gardeners under whom you have served, and to 
whom you are indebted for valuable information. Our experience with gar¬ 
deners, old and young, is not very limited, and we have usually found that the 
manner in which a head gardener discharges his duties is an indication of 
the character of his subordinates. A young man ought to feel complimented 
rather than otherwise when he finds he is trusted, and that his chief does not 
feel it necessary to be ever on the watch early and late lest any work he has 
entrusted to another should be neglected. We shall be very glad to hear 
from you on the subject you mention. On this you ought to be able to write 
acceptably ; but long experience both in working and writing are requisite 
before anyone can discuss with credit to himself and advantage to others the 
much greater question into which you entered in your former communica¬ 
tion. You allude to early ventilation ; there are more Yines injured and 
more characters lost through the late rising of young men on Sunday morn¬ 
ings than through any other mistake in gardening, but in stating this 
truth we do not imply that the majority of young men are thus negligent. 
The exact time for opening the ventilators of a vinery depends entirely on 
circumstances, and you may rely on it that there are vineries that cannot on 
.some mornings be kept closed after 5 A.M. without injury to the Vines. 
With these you do not appear to be acquainted ; we know of at least a 
hundred of such structures. You may possibly have one to manage some 
■day, but we do not apprehend you will be caught napping. 
Names of Fruit (J. C.). —As an example of the difficulty of naming 
Grapes from a mere fragment, the three berries you sent were examined by 
a few of the most competent Grape-growers and members of the Fruit Com¬ 
mittee of the Royal Horticultural Society, and opinions were equally divided 
as to the name of the variety. From the character of the Vine as described 
in your letter we think it is G-ros Maroc, very imperfect in flavour ; but a 
typical bunch is needed for the name of a Grape to be satisfactorily 
determined. 
Names of Plants (IF. IF. IF.).—1, Lastrma Filix-mas : 2 and 3, varietal 
forms of Scolopendrium vulgare ; 4, Polystichum angulare latipedes ; the 
other is quite too shrivelled for identification. (IF. J). —1, Phlebodium 
aureum ; 2, Goniophlebium appendiculatum ; 3, Nephrolepis davallioides ; 
4, Asplenium Veitchianum ; 5, Lygodium scandens, fertile frond. It is a 
pleasure to name such good specimens so carefully packed as these. ( Bedale ). 
—Deutzia scabra. (J. II., Crawley ).—Lasiandra macrantha. (C. A. R .).— 
The specimen sent is a very poor one, but it resembles Tragopogon pratensis. 
{Amateur). —Campanula Portenschlagiana. (J. TF. D.). —Specimen quite in¬ 
sufficient. (Sussex). —Tradescantia zebrina. (Inquirer). —The fruit is that of 
Itubus Chamcemorus, the Canna was not recognisable. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— August 22nd. 
Business is now very quiet, the supply of soft fruits being almost over, a good 
supply of foreign Pears arriving realising high prices. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
9. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Apples .. .. 
1 
0 
to 2 
6 
Grapes. 
i 
0 
to 3 
0 
«» • • • • 
per barrel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons. 
10 
0 
20 
0 
Apricots 
.. box 
2 
0 
2 
6 
Melons. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
'Cherries.. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Nectarines .. .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Chestnuts 
.. bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges. 
.. 100 
6 
0 
10 
0 
Currants, Black 
.. J sieve 
3 
6 
0 
0 
Peaches. 
dozen 
2 
0 
6 
0 
,, Red 
.. | sieve 
4 
0 
0 
0 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Figs .. .. 
2 
0 
0 
0 
„ dessert 
dozen 
2 
6 
3 
6 
Filberts .. . . 
.. .. tb. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples, English 
.. 1b. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cobs .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Raspberries .. 
0 
2 
0 
3 
Gooseberries.. 
.. J sieve 
2 
6 
3 
0 
Strawberries.. .. 
0 
3 
0 
6 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Artichokes 
.. .. dozen 
2 
0 
to 4 
0 
Mushrooms 
.. .. punnet 
1 
0 to 
1 
6 
Asparagus, 
English bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress punnet 
0 
2 
0 
3 
•A.S P cirtlpf U S» 
French bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Onions .. 
0 
0 
0 
4 
Beans, Kidney .. ft 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Parsley .. 
dozen bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Beet, Red 
.. .. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Parsnips .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Broccoli .. 
.. .. bundle 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Peas .. .. 
0 
9 
0 
0 
Cabbage .. 
.. .. dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Potatoes .. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums 
.. .. 100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
„ Kidney .. cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Carrots .. 
.. bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Radishes .. 
dozen bunches 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers 
.. .. dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Rhubarb .. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Celery 
.. .. bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Salsafy .. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Coleworts 
doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera 
.. .. bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Cucumbers 
.. .. each 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Seakale .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Endive .. 
.. .. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Shallots .. 
.ft. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Fennel 
.. .. bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Spinach .. 
2 
6 
3 
0 
Herb3 
.. .. bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes 
.ft. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Xeeks 
.. .. bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips .. 
0 
0 
0 
4 
Xettuce . . 
.. .. score 
1 
0 
1 
6 
MOUNTAIN BREEDS OF SHEEP. 
Various circumstances have arisen during the past'few yea s, 
and especia'ly since the year 1879, which hare brought the mounta n 
breeds of sheep more prominently before the public. The large 
number of farms untenanted throughout the kingdom, many of 
which have reverted to a state nearly approaching that called 
“ waste,” have been allowed in various instances to become unfitted 
for any stock except some variety or other of the mountain sheep. 
Again, it. is the fact, now mutton is so high in price, that the 
smaller and lighter-weighing animals are those which afford joints 
for the consumer of a small size, and in consequence meet a free 
sale. These, with other points, have tended to give a demand for 
mountain sheep which has never occurred before to the same 
extent. It must be remembered that the circumstances to which 
we have referred have also obliged many landowners to fall back 
upon those varieties of sheep which cost the least money, and in 
consequence require less capital invested for stocking the lands 
untenanted. Various owners of mansions and park lands have 
also turned their attention to the keeping of mountain sheep in 
consequence of their light weights and small joints for the table, 
which they yield for gentlemen’s establishments. The various points 
combined have influenced so many proprietors that these kinds of 
sheep are now much in request and higher in price than they made 
five or seven years ago, still there is a great demand for both lambs 
and wethers when fed for the butcher, which justifies the fact of 
being more costly to purchase than formerly. 
We notice that at. the present time all the light weights make 
a price previously unknown. The market report of sales in a southern 
county gives the price for fat Scotch lambs at 32s. to 42s. each ; 
Scotch shearling sheep, 48s to 56s. ; extra fed Scotch wethers, 
69s. to 72s. 6rf. These are for the most part black-faced horned 
heath sheep, such as are usually sold at the Falkirk trist in Scotland. 
In some cases, however, there are cross-breds of Cheviot blood in 
admixture with other varieties, and where these crosses are well 
made they are sure to meet with numerous purchasers. We have 
thus prefaced the remarks which we propose to make as to the value 
and capacity for breeding and feeding of different varieties of the 
hill or mountain breeds of the different districts of the kingdom, 
the distinction being the result of difference in soil and climate in 
which they are reared and fed. We hold that the various denomina¬ 
tions of sheep are worth the attention of flock-masters in various 
districts of the kingdom, and may therefore be selected by the 
graziers in accordance with the history and character of the animals 
which have been found suitable for fattening in the districts where 
this kind of sheep are grazed for the market as fat stock. 
As we shall have to describe the different breeds of mountain 
sheep, especially those which are natives of Scotland, we will give 
the respective terms used for sheep in Scotland particularly, and as 
they are well described by Mr. Henry Stephens in “ The Book of 
the Farm” we cannot do better than cite them :—“ When new 
born it is called a 1 lamb ; ’ if male in Scotland, a ‘ tup lamb ; ’ 
when castrated it is called a ‘ hog lamb ; ’ if female, a ‘ ewe lamb.’ 
In England a young sheep retains the name of a ‘ lamb ’ till it is 
eight months old. In Scotland, after the weaning and before the 
first clipping, a ‘ tup lamb ’ is called a ‘ tup hog.’ In England, 
lambs after they are eight months are called, till the first shearing, 
‘ ewe ’ and ‘ wether tegs,' according to sex. In Scotland, a ‘ ewe 
hog’ after the first clipping is called a ‘gimmer;’ a ‘ tup hog ’ a 
‘ shearling tup ; ’ and a * wether hog ’ a ‘ dinmont.’ The animal 
corresponding to the name of ‘gimmer’ in Scotland is called in 
England a ‘ theave ’ until it bears the first lamb, after which it is 
termed a ‘ ewe of four teeth ; ’ the year aftir a ‘ ewe of six teeth ; ’ 
and after that a ‘full-mouthed ewe.’ The ‘dinmonts’ in Scotland 
answer in England to the title of ‘ shear hogs ’ till they are deprived 
of the fleece, after which they are called ‘ two-shear wethers,’ and 
afterwards ‘ wethers.’ In Scotland the second shearing brings 
another change of names—thus, the ‘ gimmer,’ if she is in lamb, is 
called a ‘ ewe ; ’ if barren a ‘ barren gimmer ; ’ and an ‘ eild gimmer ’ 
if she is not put to ‘ tup ’ or ‘ ram.’ A ‘ shearling tup ’ is changed 
to a ‘two-shear tup;’ a ‘dinmont’ becomes a ‘wether.’ When 
three times shorn a ewe is called ‘winter ewe;’ a ‘tup’ a ‘three- 
shear tup ; ’ a ‘ wether ’ undergoes no change of name, but still con¬ 
tinue s to be called by that name. After the fourth shearing a 
‘ ewe ’ is a ‘ three-winter ewe ’ or an ‘ aged ewe ; ’ a ‘tup ’ is known 
as an ‘ aged tup.’ When a ewe fails to be with lamb a second time 
she is called a ‘ tup ewe ’ or ‘ barren ewe ; ” when she ceases to give 
milk a ‘ yeld ewe ; ’ when removed from the breeding flock, at 
whatever age, she is called a ‘ draft ewe ; ’ when put aside unfit for 
breeding, a ‘gimmer’ is called a ‘draft gimmer ; ” and when drafted 
out of the fat or young stock, lambs, dinmonts, or wethers are 
called ‘sheddings,’ ‘tails,’ or‘drafts.’” We have thought it right 
to quote these distinctions and cognomens, for young men or students 
in agriculture may be a little puzzled at times on the subject of 
s'.eep nomenclature. 
The Cheviot sheep are the choicest variety of mountain sheep, 
and are, in fact, peculiar to those hill districts in Scotland where 
