OF SCOTLAND.

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it has been often alleged, that there is a dash of the Leicesterblood in some of the best Cheviot stocks, especially wherethe practice is to rear tups for sale. When the Cheviot andheath breeds are intermixed, the ewes of the latter are put totups of the former variety ; and the ewes of the Cheviotbreed, to tups of the Leicester, when a cross-breed is to beformed from these two varieties.

The Cheviot breed “ has been gradually and very judi-ciously introduced into the higher parts of Eskdale, by cross-ing the blackfaced ewes with Cheviot rams; and late expe-rience, in the farm of Clacklieth, in the highest part of Niths-dale, and situated on Wanlock and Crawick waters, hasproved, that, in such a situation, that is the only safe modeyet known. The stock of the Messrs Tweedies, introducedin that way, is reported to be doing very well. The wool(ol course) takes a part of its character from the blackfacedrams, and sells lower for some years, than pure Cheviotwool.” « At present there is hardly any mountain flock inthe county of Dumfries, of the pure Cheviot breed entirelyunmixed

Upon the verge of the Cheviot hills a great many stockshave been formed from a cross between Leicester rams andCheviot ewes. In such situations there is commonly a con-siderable portion of arable land. The ewes, and ewe andwether hogs, are depastured on the low hills, and the weth-ers are sold fat when about 2£ years old, after being fedon turnips through the preceding winter. Both sorts of hogsare also kept on turnips in winter, and the breeding ewes arealways allowed a few for a month or six weeks in spring. Theheight, the form, and the fleece of these stocks, are some-what intermediate between those of their dams and sires,according as the crossing has been continued for a long-er or shorter period. Yet though Leicester tups havebeen employed in many instances for several years, and none

DumfrieS'Shire Report, p. 359, 360.