Cross-Breeding

Lort writes that he can let Ewart have four or five pure-bred brown St Kilda ewes. He has tried crossing them with the Southdown Shropshire and the four-horned red Manx and he is now trying the Cheviot. He offers to sell Ewart some lambs from a St Kilda ewe and Manx ram cross.

Lort states that he has not tried the 'Soa' ram and Manx ewe cross, and provides details about the lambs from 'Soa' ewe and Manx ram crosses, as well as from Manx/Southdown crosses. He asks if Ewart would like any red wethers.

Lort writes that he won't send any Manx ram and 'Soa' ewe crosses as there is a chance of them being mated. However he will send Ewart some first crosses from Southdown and 'Soa' ewes that are unmated, and provides details about their transportation. He also asks if Ewart would like a Manx ram or adult 'Soa' ram.

Noble reports that he has heard from an acquaintance that the piebald sheep breed is unknown to him, and that his friend H.M Wallis didn't hear of any sheep like theirs when he was in Algeria. He concludes that the piebald sheep appear to be the result of a cross which has bred true, but that the country of origination cannot be traced, and that the breed now does not exist outwith the British Isles.

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.