Scope and Contents

Ewart writes that he will show Elwes Mr Cowan's Shetland sheep at Penicuik and compares features of the Soay and the dun-faced sheep.

Scope and Contents

Ewart writes that he has written about the 'Murrayshire' sheep which he heard about at the Board of Agriculture. Ten Shetland fleeces and some Soay-Southdown wool have been sent to Sanderson. He asks Elwes to return the Soay-Southdown and the Siberian fleeces sent to the Bristol show as they belong to the University.

Scope and Contents

Elwes mentions an interesting breed of sheep called 'Neerie sheep' he has heard of from Harvie-Brown, as well as another breed, 'dun-faced sheep', which he has read about. He will write to Switzerland for information on a race of Swiss sheep which appears to resemble the Soay sheep and may be a direct descendent of a primeval Swiss breed.

Scope and Contents

Elwes asks Ewart to send one of his papers to Collett at the Zoological Museum, Christiana (Oslo), to remind him about an enquiry Elwes received concerning the races of sheep on the islands of the Norwegian coast, from which it has been supposed that the Shetland or Soay stock originated.

Scope and Contents

Elwes writes that he is sending Ewart a photograph of the 'so-called Cabul sheep' at Tetbury, which he thinks look like St Kildas. He asks Ewart to bring with him the Takin horns which he left in Ewart's house when he visits Elwes.

Scope and Contents

Elwes writes that he has heard that the sheep at Greystoke will be transported once the restrictions in Peebles are lifted. He recommends that Ewart take a photograph of the Foula ewes while they are alive. He is buying some of Lort's Manx and Manx-Soay crosses, and a black bull with a broad white belt. He would like to put his fat-tailed ewes to Ewart's fat-tailed ram.

The year is not written on the letter.

Scope and Contents

Elwes writes that nearly all of his sheep have now lambed. He concludes that the Soay, Manx or Hebridean sheep are not worth keeping except for ornamental value, that the Welsh spotted and Shetland sheep are hardier and that the Cheviot lamb crosses are not as hardy as one would expect. Elwes wants a wool expert to report on his various sheep at clipping time. Next season he proposes to cross Herdwicks and Shetlands more largely and to get more of the spotted breed and some Wensleydales.

Scope and Contents

Elwes asks Ewart to approve a short notice of their exhibit for insertion in press information. He believes it would be more interesting to show the Southdown-Soay cross and lamb instead of the Wensleydale.

Scope and Contents Elwes writes that he has been invited to the Blackface Sheep Breeders' Association meeting in Perth. He does not think wild sheep could be used in the improvement of British wool. He is also doubtful whether a cross between a Blackface and Soay sheep would be able to withstand the climate of the West Highlands, or whether the lower quality of their meat and wool would render the experiment worthwhile. He believes the Blackface-Cheviot or Blackface-Shetland cross would be preferable and would...

Scope and Contents

Elwes writes that the Zoological Society no longer wishes to keep his three-year old Soay ram, and he wonders whether the Edinburgh Zoological Society might like him. He asks whether Ewart knows of anyone who will make him cloth made from Moorit wool.