1 68 The Improved Breed of Sheep defended. May 



mountainous parts of Great Britain. And I cannot help think- 

 ing, that a period will arrive, (perhaps not very diftant) when 

 thefe tv\o breeds, 'uiz. the Bakewell or New Leicefters, and the 

 black-faced, will occupy the greateii: part of the pailurage of thefe 

 iiflands. It is very well known, that the former are now creeping 

 up ail the hilly, and even mountainous diftrifts which are not 

 very heathy, whilll the black-faced are confeiTedly bell calculated 

 to withftand the feverity of the cold upon the high heathy moun- 

 tains, where no other flieep that I am acquainted with can fublilt. 

 — I fliall fay nothing about the gods of ifrael I Gods ufed to drink 

 neftar, we are told, of old. — But in regard to butchers, in Scot- 

 land, however tlieymay like or oiilike the improved breed, I cannot 

 pretend to fay- but in Newcaille, Manchefter, Leeds, Sheffield, 

 Birmingham, &c. Stc. &:c. I know the butchers can fell two 

 joints of this breed for one of any other kind whatever. 

 But after all, I fuppofe Epicurus (who certainly carries 

 *' the pen of a ready writer,") has had no other view by 

 his remarks than to call forth the obfervationsof fome breeders ; 

 and although I am convinced of my own inability, I could 

 not avoid faying thus much. But I flatter myfelf, that fome one 

 more competer.t to the tailc, will anfwer him more to the 

 purpofe than I can pretend to. In the mean time, I dclire to 

 fubfcribe myfelf a conftant reader, and fiucere wcll-wifher to 

 your ufeful Publication, 



A Breeder of the Coal-Heavers Mutton, 



Remarks hy the ConduBor, 



The above communication is extremely fatisfaftory, becaufc 

 it bears intrinfic evidence of being compofed by a mafter 

 in the bufmefs of iheep-breeding. That the new Leicefter, 

 or improved breed of Iheep, aie more profitable to the farmer 

 in general cafes than many other breeds, may almoft be 

 received as an axiom ; though, as we formerly ftated, fome of 

 thefe may afford more gratification to tlie pulate. Perhaps this, 

 in a great meafure, is owing to the difl'erent ages at which Higli- 

 land bred iheep, and thofe of the long-wooled fort arc killed ; 

 and no doubt, the excrcife which the former enjoy in fearching 

 for food, may contribute to produce more highly flavoured and 

 juicy meat. Be that as it may, fo long as profit is the objeft 

 cither of breeders or feeders, the beft kind, in their eye, muft 

 certainly be the one that will return the moll money for ngive.i 

 quantity of food. When a corn farmer, as is culloniary in Scot- 

 land, fows oats upon clover lea, inftead of wheat, he is not cen- 

 fu red, bccaufe the latter grain willafford the confumer better bread. 



No; 



