Scope and Contents

Ewart writes that he is enclosing a report on the wool from Watson, Wallace's assistant, although he has not yet heard about the Iceland wool. He would like to have the Ronaldsay sheep, and understands that they live between a wall and the sea and feed mainly on seaweed.

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Ewart writes that he has written about the 'Murrayshire' sheep which he heard about at the Board of Agriculture. Ten Shetland fleeces and some Soay-Southdown wool have been sent to Sanderson. He asks Elwes to return the Soay-Southdown and the Siberian fleeces sent to the Bristol show as they belong to the University.

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Elwes writes that he is glad that Ewart does not object to joint work, and suggests starting the study with 'the Highland Society' before doing something more ambitious in a few years' time. He asks Ewart to seek out the papers of a society formed more than a 100 years earlier in Edinburgh for the improvement of sheep and wool.

The year is not written on the letter.

Scope and Contents Elwes writes from Shetland that he has had a pleasant and successful trip seeing 'some of the best sheep in Shetland', although he fears that there are no pure Shetland sheep left. He provides details of the sheep he has purchased. He wishes to see Ewart on his journey south to arrange the forwarding of the ewe hoggs Elwes has bought from him. He urges Ewart to examine the wool which he addressed to Wallace at the University. The letter is undated but marked 'Sunday', which,...

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.

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Elwes is sending Ewart samples of Iceland wool which he would like him to compare them with Cowan's. He judges it to be less fine than the Shetland and not as long as the white wool. He also lists the names of the recipients of the circular he has sent.

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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.

Scope and Contents Elwes reports that Bateson did not have any particular ideas about the Iceland wool, but that he invited Elwes to read a short paper on the subject at the meeting of the British Association at Portsmouth, which prompted a discussion. He has heard that the Development Commissioners are prepared to establish breeding and experimental stations, and thinks Ewart may do valuable work. He remarks that Colonel Malcolm of Poltalloch has offered him an island which he is going to visit the following...

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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.

Scope and Contents

Elwes asks Ewart what the Ronaldsay sheep were like, and whether Eagle Clark is back from St Kilda yet. He reports that they have an acknowledgement of their application from the Board of Agriculture. He also mentions that he will be visiting the wool manufacturer Sanderson.

Letter is undated, although marked 'Sunday', which appears to place it around 8th October (ie the Sunday before the following letter, Coll-14/9/17/65).