OF SCOTLAND.

139

dom be reared on the same ground on which the breedingewes are kept, it is certainly a preferable mode, to unite dif-ferent farms under the management of one experienced store -master, than to divide them among a number of independentoccupiers, commonly without either skill or capital. Theseextensive occupations have certainly enabled the farmers ofthe Cheviot hills, to improve their flocks much beyond whatwould have been possible, had the farms been so small, as tolimit their experience to one of the several descriptions ofstock; and it is in a great measure owing to the comparative-ly small- size of farms in the contiguous districts, that theCheviot sheep are not to be found there in equal perfection.

To ensure the constant attention of shepherds to their re-spective charges, the principal part of their wages is paid bysheep, which they are allowed to pasture along with theirmaster’s. The number of each hirsel is ascertained at differ-ent times, particularly at the two great gatherings for smear-ing and shearing, and the shepherd must account for themeither alive or dead; in the latter case, he must produce theirskins, and if the mortality has been beyond the common ra-tio, it is expected that he should be able to give satisfactoryreasons for his losses.

The annual sales from a flock of this kind are, first, Thewool of the whole flock, of which the price has been alreadystated; second, A certain proportion of the ewes; third,The wethers two years and a half old, or a year older; andfourth, Incidental sales of small lambs or hogs, and of tups.Wethers of improved flocks, a little fed at 3^ years old, areat an average about 15 lbs. per quarter, and rise to 18 lbs.and upwards when fed on turnips *, and their price to thebreeder, according to the demand in different years, may runfrom 25 s. to 35 s. a-head.

Roxburghshire Report, p. 155.