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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 provides some suggestions regarding the transportation of the sheep to Cheltenham from Edinburgh for the Royal Agricultural Show in Bristol. He will send Ewart details of the valuation of the wool for the guidance of Ewart's committee as to future crossing experiments.

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Elwes makes arrangements for visiting Ewart after his trip to Yorkshire. He thinks that he will soon discard the Hebridean and spotted breeds and confine himself to brown Shetlands which he will cross with Manx, Black Welsh and White Cheviots crossed with Norfolk. He also plans to try some Exmoors this year, which thrive well on Salisbury Plain. He asks whether Ewart or Cowan have any Shetland sheep arriving that year.

The year is not written on the letter.

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Elwes asks Ewart to let him know when he can visit his sheep. He has shorn the rams but the brown Siberian will have to be killed as he has a cancerous growth on his jaw. He describes what sheep cross-breeding he intends to do and states that he must move the Wallachian sheep from Hungary.

The letter is undated.

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Elwes enquires whether Ewart thinks it worthwhile to import any sheep from the Faroes, and if so, could Lord Bute or Cowan take them, as he has no room. He refers to a letter from a Mrs Taylor which mentions crossing a fox-coloured ram with a black ewe. He reports that Ewart's Blackfaces are the most profitable of his sheep so far, except for their wool. He will be selling the remainder of Ewart's hoggs.

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...

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Elwes writes that he is sending some remarks about the report of the Committee on wool, of which Ewart was chiefly the author. Elwes believes that the Committee fails to realise that with the possible exception of the Merino and Shetland, wool is of minor importance to the breeder, and that no definite type of wool suitable for any specified purpose is indicated. He does not feel that the Welsh farm or Fochabers are suitable for experiments on crossing because they are low country farms.

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Elwes writes that he has looked over the ram and proposes to send it to Edinburgh Zoo or to Ewart if he wishes to have it, as well as the horned white ram that he bought as an Icelander. He wonders if the Edinburgh Museum would like to have his best old Hebridean. He describes the sheep crosses he is planning to conduct.

Letter is undated but marked 'Sunday'.

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Elwes writes on 22 June 1911 that he will order the Ronaldsay sheep for Ewart. He hopes that Ewart will compare the fleece of 'Murrat' ewe mentioned by H.C Stephens with Cowan's fleeces. Elwes is hoping to get Ewart a fleece of purebred Ryeland, which he believes makes a good cross with the Welsh sheep.

The letter from H.C Stephens, dated 19 June 1911, informs Elwes that he will send him the 'Murrat' ewes shortly, and confirms that he has sent the fleece to Ewart.