Farms

Balfour writes that her brother has been unsuccessful in attempting to gain Lord Elgin's help for funding for a research farm. She enquires whether anyone has tried procuring immunity for horses from the Tsetse fly by permitting infection in zebras.

Linton informs Ewart that he will be going to South-East Africa to breed and cross zebras. He would like to see Ewart's animal station and receive some advice.

Hill passes on a report from Stordy that no zebra mares had yet been bred with stallions in England. He mentions that he is awaiting Stordy's report on the zebra farm, and hopes to meet Ewart at the next Polo Pony dinner.

Brand informs Ewart that he has recently returned from Egypt hoping to call upon Professor Wallace, who would have introduced them. He writes that he has photographs which he took on the Aboukir Company's mule breeding farm near Alexandria of a mare with twin horse and mule foals. He comments that this must be a very rare instance of 'double conception' and says he would be happy to show Ewart the photographs.

Elwes writes that he will read Ewart's lecture on the origin of domesic animals with great interest. He has asked for some photographs of sheep skulls in the Museum at Cambridge. He reports that he has received a letter from Hudson Beare asking Elwes' opinion of Ewart's farm at Fairslacks, as someone has objected to it being too high and cold.

Elwes recommends that Ewart keeps the fat-tailed ram in a shed and that the shepherd assists him when the ewes are brought to him. Elwes recommends where Ewart can get some spotted ewes, his own having all been served. He recommends how Ewart might freshen up the soil of his farm.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes writes that he is glad to hear that the farm is arranged and that Ewart will be able to carry out some more extensive experiments. He enquires about the fat-tailed ram at Liverpool, as he would like to see him, and remarks that the weather at Colesbourne will suit him more than Ewart's farm at Fairslacks. He suggests that Ewart send over some live specimens of sheep to the new Zoological Gardens in Edinburgh.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes writes that the restrictions on transporting sheep are now removed and that the sheep at Greystoke will be sending their sheep to Elwes as soon as possible. Elwes asks Ewart to confirm whether he can take the sheep on his farm for a year, as he himself will be short of room.

Elwes asks for Ewart's opinion on the Iceland skins and for him to return them. He has just received some new cloth and enquires whether Mrs Ewart or any of their friends would like some before he hands it over to the tailor to sell. Wallace has written that he has a fine ram from Russia which he is sending to a farm for the Scottish Board of Agriculture.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes writes that he is sending some remarks about the report of the Committee on wool, of which Ewart was chiefly the author. Elwes believes that the Committee fails to realise that with the possible exception of the Merino and Shetland, wool is of minor importance to the breeder, and that no definite type of wool suitable for any specified purpose is indicated. He does not feel that the Welsh farm or Fochabers are suitable for experiments on crossing because they are low country farms.