XXXVilL INTRODUCTION. 
of change of Jheep, the writer mutt not omit an inftance of 
attachment and perfeverance which he laft fummer had 
occafion to remark, in a journey from London to Lewes. 
One of the firft objets of fheep-ftock which occurred, 
in the ftage from Croydon, was a flock of /arge fheep at a 
diftance. On approaching them for examination, and to 
converfe with the fhepherd, they were found to bea flock of 
Wiltthires. Surprifed to find them within boundaries 
fuppofed to have been almoft facred to the South-Down, 
the writer made the fhepherd explain, as well as he could, 
the reafon of the choice. He faid, his mafter was almoft the 
only man in the neighbourhood who continued to keep 
this kind of ftock; but he believed his mafter was afraid to 
alter, left another fort fhould not anfwer; he having been 
ufed to keep a fatting and lean flock of thefe wethers for 
many years. ‘That when bought and fent him at Michael- 
mas, they generally, as he underftood, coft about one 
guinea per head; what they fetched, when fold off fat, he 
Was not quite certain of, but thought the moft common 
price was about two guineas per head.* However, the 
fhepherd proceeded voluntarily to remark, that the Jean 
{tock of this race were certainly too large for his mafter’s 
keep; they ftrolled partly on the wafte and partly on inclo- 
fures in the day, and were folded on the fallows at night; 
but kept themfelves thin and poor in this courfe. “That all 
the neighbouring farmers kept South-Down flocks, which 
‘they reckoned did better, becaufe they kept themfelves iz 
better order on the fame hind of land and the fame food. ‘The 
account was in fubftance what one fhould expect to hear, 
Se SS 
* Thefe prices mult be fuppofed to vary with feafons; and prac- 
tical judges know, that to fix, or fuppofe, an average value of live 
ftock, on any given number of Years, is not eafy. 
and 
