University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Noble asks if Ewart has been ill, as he has not replied to his letters and he is still in possession of Noble's manuscript. He asks whether Elwes knows the record for the largest cedar tree.

Noble writes that he is expecting a visit from Elwes and that Ewart is welcome to stay too. He sees in The Field that Lydekker still believes that a certain breed of sheep are from South Africa although he has not been able to provide any proof, and that they were certainly in Britain 100 years before either of the flocks he mentions.

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.