INTRODUCTION. xliil 



probable that no one fort, or mixture of forts, can be- 

 come generally and exclufively recommended ? The main 

 points, however, cliaraileriftjck of the Difhley produce, 

 are undoubtedly confidered, and increafingly fo, as thofe 

 points which fhou'ld be more generally regarded than they 

 have been : and it is now held that no race or mixture of 



r 



fheep (whatever the value of their wool) which have not 

 the chief of thofe points, can be recommended as worthy 

 of choice. The South-Down — as one of the moft diftindt 

 of the races, and as being nimble on the foot, yet gen- 

 tle in paflure, hardy in feeding, of middle fize, adapted 

 to fatten expeditioufly In almofl: any fituation, producing 

 mutton of firm texture and fine flavour, and carrying a 

 valuable wool for the clothing manufadure, — are grow- 

 ing in repute ; while thofe, of whatever name, which are of 

 large fize, heavy in horn, bone, and offal, however noble in 

 appearance when fat, or however abounding with tallow on 

 the kidney, are defervedly confidered as lefs worthy of pro- 

 pagation, — even in folding difi;ri(5ts, or in the richefl: paltures, 

 where they were once the pride of their owners. Calcula- 

 tions of profit on fheep feem of late years to have been 

 made more accurately by the acre-., or on the whole yearns 

 Jiock^ than by thtfingle head. 1 he latter feems to have been 

 heretofore no uncommon mode of calculating the fheep pro- 

 fits on a farm; but obvioufly liable to great deception. It 

 feems to be now generally allowed, that a given quantity of 

 food, confumed by fmall fiieep, pays much more than by 

 large ones : that a fuccefllon of fufficiently fat mutton is 

 more eafily and regularly produced from fuch fmall flieep ; 

 that the confumer is better pleafed ; and that on the whole, 

 the quantity of wools moft in demand is increafed. It may 

 be agreeable to many gentlemen to hear, that from experi- 

 ments 



