Experiments

Elwes writes that he will settle with the people of Shetland how many sheep to send and when. He also wants sheep from Fairisle and Foula. Balfour of Dawyck wants some sheep sent along with them, and Elwes asks Ewart if he knows of any place near Leith where the sheep could rest for a week en route. He writes that Wallace is hoping to get a grant to carry out cross-breeding experiments at the University and has suggested working together.

The letter is undated.

Elwes thanks Ewart for the draft of the application which he hopes to submit shortly. If Ewart can secure the grazing on the hill behind his farm, Elwes will send him 30 Shetland ewes. He will take the five sheep that are for sale for £9 and offers Ewart the Herdwick ram that Mr Howard of Greystoke is selling, if Ewart would like to try him with some Cheviot or Blackface ewes. He advises Ewart to get the printed results of experiments at the Cumberland Experimental Farm near Penrith.

Jackson writes that following the advertisement in The Field, he would be very glad to send Ewart a white cock pheasant. He also says that he would be willing to mate a white cock with a white hen for experimental purposes.

Russell, who signs himself 'Bedford', writes that he is ready to continue experiments with Przewalski's horses and asks Ewart to send the pony mares that he wants to cross to Woburn. He comments that his Grevy's zebra is due to foal soon.

Gladstone expresses his interest in Ewart's experiments with the speckled white female and white male birds. He recounts that Farnley Hall, Yorkshire had a large number of speckled pheasants. He offers Ewart some of the offspring from one of his own cross-breeding experiments.

Gladstone writes that, having seen the advertisement in The Field, he would be pleased to give Ewart a white cock pheasant for his experiments, on condition that it is stuffed after death, and that any unusual offspring is sent to him for his own collection.

Muntz asks Ewart's advice on the best book relating to the question of colour (in breeding) of animals, particularly the horse. He has a stud of moorland ponies on Dartmoor, Devon and hopes to experiment with some of the ponies at a later date.

MacDonald informs Ewart that his application for additional funding for his livestock breeding experiments has been presented to the directors of the Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland. However, the directors have decided that unless Ewart is able to prove that his experiments will be of direct benefit to breeders of farm livestock in Scotland, they will be unable to offer any further grant.

MacDonald announces on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland, the award of £200 towards the costs of Ewart's stockbreeding experiments.

MacDonald writes on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland, enclosing a precept for the sum of £200 to assist with the costs of his experiments in stockbreeding. On the reverse side of the letter is a draft reply from Ewart in which he expresses his gratitude for the donation. He also urges members of the Society to purchase Ewart's Penycuik Experiments.