628 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1810. 



average weight of fleeces is from 

 five to five and a half, and 1 have 

 known some flocks to average six 

 pounds : I speak of a selected 

 flock, well fed, and attended to 

 with care. From individual sheep 

 of the full blood I have shorn 

 eight, nine, and ten pounds. I 

 mean in this estimate washed 

 wool, or from sheep washed 

 before shearing. I have gener- 

 ally, but not always practised 

 this, and I have never found any 

 disadvantage either as to clean- 

 ness of wool or health of the sheep. 

 In the crosses, pains should be 

 taken to select breeders of the 

 best forms and fleeces. From 

 carelessness in this respect, many 

 persons have injured the charac- 

 ter of this sheep and its fleece. 

 It is as vain to expect good fleeces 

 from a starved, neglected, or ill- 

 assorted flock, as it is to count on 

 a good crop from a poor and ill- 

 managed field. I am convinced 

 that the wool of this sheep has 

 never been properly known or 

 appreciated, the mutton having 

 been the object. I have now as 

 fine and as white home-made 

 blankets, and have seen as fine 

 flannel, made from the white wool 

 of spotted fleeces, as those made 

 from any other wool usually de- 

 voted to such purposes; there 

 being always as much white wool 

 as will answer for every fabric re- 

 quiring it. In the dressing of 

 blankets and flannels, we are yet 

 much behind the Europeans. 



2. They are hardy, and will 

 bear either cold or heat better 

 than any others within my know- 

 ledge. I have, on a small scale 

 (never less in number than one or 

 two score, and frequently from SO 

 to 100) had an interest in, and 



kept sheep of every breed known 

 in this country, for a period of 

 forty-five years — some breeds re- 

 cently introduced, and tli'J Merino 

 excepted, I never knew a hardier 

 sheep than are those of the Tunis 

 breed. Were I to point out, in 

 my estimation, the proper form, 

 size, and valuable points and 

 qualities of a sheep, 1 could not 

 more justly designate them, than 

 by exactly describing my old ram 

 Caramelli. 



3. They fatten with less food, 

 and much quicker, than any other 

 sheep. That other sheep become 

 as fat, I know ; but more time 

 and food are required, so to make 

 them. They will bear to be kept 

 fat, without being diseased, far 

 beyond any others within my 

 knowledge. The carcase is heavy, 

 but not coarse, as are many other 

 sheep of large sizes. The hea- 

 viest ewe of this breed I have 

 known weighed 182 pounds alive, 

 when sheared. Her fleece, clean 

 washed, weighed eight and one 

 half pounds; she was half blood. 

 A half-bred ram, a twin, at eigh- 

 teen months old weighed 2I4« 

 pounds. 



4. Their character is that of 

 gentleness and quietude ; and they 

 live in health, vigour, and useful- 

 ness, to greater ages than other 

 sheep. I never saw a breachy 

 Tunis sheep. Some exceptions 

 there may be, but they are rare. 

 Yet they are not inactive, but use 

 sufficient exercise for health, with- 

 out wandering and fickleness as to 

 pastures. In these they are not 

 over nice ; and will keep in good 

 condition upon coarser and less 

 food than any sheep I am ac- 

 quainted with. 



5. Their general healthfulness 



