283 Some Circumstances relative to Merino Sheep. 



From that time to the present the opinion of the public, 

 sometimes perhaps too unwary, and at others too cautious, 

 in appreciating the value and adopting the use of novel kinds 

 of sheep, has gradually inclined to give that preference to 

 the Merinos which is so justly their due. At first it was 

 impossible to find a purchaser willing to give even a mode- 

 rate price either for the sheep or for their wool ; the shape 

 of the sheep did not please the graziers, and the wool-sta- 

 plers were utterly unable to judge of the merit of the wool, 

 it being an article so many times finer and more valuable 

 than any thing of the kind that had ever before passed 

 through their hands. The butchers, however, were less ti- 

 morous \ they readily offered for the sheep, when fat, a fair 

 mutton price; and there are two instances in which, when 

 the fat stock agreed for was exhausted, the butcher who had 

 bought them anxiously inquired for more, because he said 

 the mutton was so very much approved of by his best cus- 

 tomers. 



It was not, however, till the year 1804, thirteen years after 

 their first introduction, that it was deemed practicable to sell 

 them by auction, the only certain means of placing animals 

 in the hands of those persons who set the highest value upon 

 them, and are consequently the most likely to take proper 

 care of them. The attempt, however, succeeded; and the 

 prices given demonstrated that some at least of his majesty's 

 subjects had at that time learned to put a due value on the 

 benefit his royal patriotism offered to them. One of the 

 rams sold at the first sale for 4£ guineas, and two of the 

 ewes for 1J guineas each; the average price at which the 

 rams sold was 19/. 4s., and that of the ewes 8/. 1 5.?. 6d. each* 



This most useful mode of distribution has since that time 

 been annually continued, and the sales have taken place in 

 the beginning of August. The last sale was held on the 17-th' 

 of August, 1808, when the highest price given for a ram 

 was 74/. lis., for an ewe 38/. 17s. The average prices of 

 rams was 33/. 105. \d., of ewes 23l. 125. bd. ;— a most 

 decisive proof not only that the flock had risen very mate- 

 rially in public estimation, but also that the sheep have not 

 in any way degenerated from their original excellence. 



The 



