Elwes, Henry John, 1846-1922 (traveller and botanist)

Ewart encloses a cheque for the ewes Elwes is sending him, and confirms the number of sheep that are being sent. He tried to cross a he-goat with some ewes but there was no progeny. He asks if Ewart would like to see Appel's book on sheep.

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'.

Elwes provides some details of the 'dun-faced sheep' and suggests that Ewart impress on Claud Alexander the importance of photographing the results of his cross-breeding experiments, rather than breeding indiscriminately. He mentions the research of Professor Keller on the Bündner sheep of Switzerland and R.F Scharff in Ireland. He hopes to visit Ewart before going to Shetland.

Elwes writes that he is enclosing a letter from Heatley Noble about the pied sheep (letter not present) of which he showed Ewart photographs and remarks on the interesting point he makes about the crosses always coming out black. If this can be verified, Elwes will get his tup from the Shetland flock to cross with him on other breeds. He also provides a list of crosses he proposes to make and asks for Ewart's advice.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes will send his fat-tailed sheep to be served by Ewart's ram and could also send some 'so-called Siberian' sheep which he is buying. He asks Ewart to confirm when would be a suitable time for him to visit to see his Fairisle sheep, and to settle what crosses he will make to exhibit at Bristol. He mentions some brown and white sheep of an old Spanish breed belonging to Lady Campbell.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes writes concerning the restrictions on his sheep leaving England to be tupped, and urgently asks when Ewart can send his fat-tailed ram. He also enquires whether Ewart thinks a curly lamb could be produced by crossing a Wensleydale with a white Shetland sheep.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes states that he is sorry Lord Bute won't let the ram go, but Elwes will send Ewart some of his own sheep as soon as they are allowed to enter Scotland. He describes some of the cross-breeding he has carried out using his Western ram lamb.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes writes that the wool of the Ryeland sheep is probably the softest English-grown wool, that they make a good cross with the Welsh sheep and would probably improve the uniformity of the Shetland. He gives a negative review of Lydekker's book The Sheep and Its Cousins.

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.