Scope and Contents Elwes writes from Shetland that he has not been able to find Cowan a grey ram but he has seen two tup lambs in Mr Gordon's flock which may prove to be the right colour. He reports that all the Shetlanders he spoke to inform him that the pure Shetland sheep can hardly be found now, but there are many sheep among the white and moorit which if carefully selected, bred and pastured, can be just as good. He is sure that breeding Shetland sheep could be a lucrative business, although he fears they...

Scope and Contents Ewart writes from Lerwick, Shetland, that he would be happy to arrange to keep the 15 ewes and lambs at Fairslacks for a year at a fair price, although it will be best not to add to the permanent stock until the farm is taken over by the University in October or November that year. At an exhibition on Shetland he saw a ewe as small as the one in the British Museum from Papa Stour with goat-like horns and a very short tail, as well as a hornless, short-tailed ewe with white patches at Foula;...

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Ewart writes that the embargo on transporting sheep and cattle between England and Scotland will be lifted in a few days. He thinks he may get the use of one of the islands in the Forth for sheep that are too wild for fences. He asks whether Elwes knows the Ryeland breed of sheep, as it has been suggested that he should put some to the 'Siberian' ram.

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Ewart writes that he will let Elwes know about the Ryelands ram. The cost of enclosing the sheep at the forthcoming Royal Highland Agricultural Show depends upon how many sheep Elwes is planning to exhibit; he should be able to cover the costs for the fencing by charging for the exhibition catalogue.

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Ewart writes that the account for the sheep from Cheltenham has already been paid. He tells Elwes to make a note of anything interesting on his travels, and if Elwes is back by March they may meet at the Zoological Congress in Monte Carlo. He reports that Elwes' two fat-rumped sheep and a dozen more ewes seem to be in lamb to the fat-tailed ram, and that the cloth Elwes sent is much admired. Now that Ewart's lectures are over for the winter he hopes to get some writing done.

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Elwes writes that he will settle with the people of Shetland how many sheep to send and when. He also wants sheep from Fairisle and Foula. Balfour of Dawyck wants some sheep sent along with them, and Elwes asks Ewart if he knows of any place near Leith where the sheep could rest for a week en route. He writes that Wallace is hoping to get a grant to carry out cross-breeding experiments at the University and has suggested working together.

The letter is undated.

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Elwes thanks Ewart for the report, and requests that Watson returns the fleeces to him at once as he wants to show them to a cloth manufacturer as well as to Bateson, who will be visiting. He will send Ewart his Norfolk rams if he wants to try crossing them with some Cheviots. He has received few answers to the circular, and complains of 'the apathy of the average English landowner'.

The year is not written on the letter.

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Elwes thanks Ewart for the draft of the application which he hopes to submit shortly. If Ewart can secure the grazing on the hill behind his farm, Elwes will send him 30 Shetland ewes. He will take the five sheep that are for sale for £9 and offers Ewart the Herdwick ram that Mr Howard of Greystoke is selling, if Ewart would like to try him with some Cheviot or Blackface ewes. He advises Ewart to get the printed results of experiments at the Cumberland Experimental Farm near Penrith.

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Elwes reports that Hall, a mutual acquaintance, approves of Ewart's paper and feels that it paves the way for something on a larger scale later. Elwes has received a pair of Rocky sheep, and asks Ewart if he wants a long-tailed black Welsh ram lamb. He has heard that the Board of Agriculture are trying to get a farm where animals for exporting will be tested for tuberculosis and imported animals received in quarantine.

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Elwes asks for feedback on his notes on Ewart's sheep, which he intends to publish. He stresses the importance of photographing the sheep, as well as taking the measurements of the weights and lengths of the fleeces. He will send the black ram lamb to Ewart shortly.

The year is not written on the letter.