328 



MOST PROFITABLE SORT OF SHEEF. 



changed for 

 Ryeland. 



Improved. 



Mixed with 

 Merino. 



Profit of South- 

 Downs ; 



of Ryelands j 



of South-Down 

 and Merino - 



of Ryeland 

 and Merino ; 



Jure Merino. 



Sire of the 



tana. 



degenerating, and also becoming annually less profitable, 

 he changed them at the above-mentioned period for one 

 hundred and fifty Ryeland ewes. 



In the first year, though the winter was severe, the ewe9 

 supported themselves tolerably well, and the lambs were in 

 very* good order at weaning time. In their future growth, 

 as wethers and store ewes, they far exceeded in weight their 

 parent stock. One lot of the wethers sold as high as 31. 

 each, and were fed upon grass and hay only. 



In the following year, Lord Somerville brought from 

 Spain some rams and ewes of the Merino breed. These 

 rams, in each subsequent year, have been, and now conti- 

 nue to be, put to ewes of the South-Down and Ryeland 

 breed ; from each of which crosses a valuable species of 

 sheep has been obtained, both in fleece and carcase ; the re- 

 lative value of which has been detailed by his lordship in his 

 memorial of 1 802, the substance of which is, that 



South-Down store-ewes at 3 lb. per fleece, and at Is. lQcl. 

 per lb., will pay 5*. 6c?. per fleece; which, at 6J per acre 

 in good upland pasture for seven months, and five months 

 in turnips at 14 or 15 per acre, will pay 38s. or 40*. per 

 acre. 



Ryeland store-ewes 2f/&, per fleece, at Is. Id. per lb. 

 untrinded, nine sheep per acre, and turnips as above, will 

 pay 2 J. 3$. \0\d. per acre. 



South-Down and Merino ewes of the half-breed, at 4ib. 

 per fleece clean washed, and 3.?. per lb., will amount to 12*. 

 per fleece- which, at 1\ per acre for seven months, amount 

 to 41. 10s. per acre for the pasture land, with turnips as 

 above for winter keep. 



Ryeland and Merino ewes of the half blood at 10 per 

 acre for seven months, and turnips as above, at 3- lb. per 

 fleece, and 3.9. 2d. per lb., amount to 61. 10s. bd. per acre. 



The pure Merino fleeces never sold at less than one guinea 

 each ; the average weight of which has been more than 6 lb. 

 each in the yolk; and on the above allowance of pasture 

 for seven months, and turnips as above in aid of that pas., 

 ture, the return will amount to ten guineas per acre. 



The size of the farm in Lord Somerville's occupation is 

 four hundred and sixty acres, eighty-fire of which are a 



dairy 



