Scope and Contents

Elwes is sending Ewart the fleece of a Cheviot-Shetland cross from Shetland and that he will also receive a fleece of a first-prize shearling Welsh ewe. He is also enclosing photographs of sheep showing four generations and asks Ewart's advice on what would be the most interesting cross out of them. He asks when Ewart and Wallace are going to examine the wools.

Scope and Contents Elwes writes that he has seen Bateson in London, who is of the opinion that the pure breeds of domestic animals, including crosses selected by experts, should be represented at the British Museum gallery and that he would be happy to sign a letter to the Trustees if Ewart drafts one. He would like to see a sample of the wool from Ewart's 'so-called Siberian sheep', which Sanderson says is valuable, and enquires about the country of origin and quarantine arrangements for Lord Bute's long...

Scope and Contents

Elwes writes that nearly all of his sheep have now lambed. He concludes that the Soay, Manx or Hebridean sheep are not worth keeping except for ornamental value, that the Welsh spotted and Shetland sheep are hardier and that the Cheviot lamb crosses are not as hardy as one would expect. Elwes wants a wool expert to report on his various sheep at clipping time. Next season he proposes to cross Herdwicks and Shetlands more largely and to get more of the spotted breed and some Wensleydales.

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Elwes regrets that he will no longer have room for Ewart in the car to the Scottish Highlands, but he hopes to see him before the Royal Agricultural Show in July. He thinks his Shetland wether hoggs are not worth keeping another year for their wool alone, so they had better be sold for whatever they are worth. He is sending around 40 fleeces of many crosses to Bradford to be examined and valued.

The letter is undated, although marked 'Friday'.

Scope and Contents

Elwes writes that he has presented the three sheep skins collected by Carruthers to the British Museum on condition that they are mounted at once. He describes the wool of the sheep in the Calcutta Zoological Gardens and recommends that Ewart sees them when he goes. He has applied for a space at Bristol (the Royal Agricultural Show) the following year to exhibit a selection of his pure breeds and crosses, and asks Ewart to join him.

Scope and Contents Elwes writes that he has been invited to the Blackface Sheep Breeders' Association meeting in Perth. He does not think wild sheep could be used in the improvement of British wool. He is also doubtful whether a cross between a Blackface and Soay sheep would be able to withstand the climate of the West Highlands, or whether the lower quality of their meat and wool would render the experiment worthwhile. He believes the Blackface-Cheviot or Blackface-Shetland cross would be preferable and would...