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

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 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.