ii6 On improved Sheep 



No. 4 is a very small portion from another ram of the 

 same cross. I am extremely concerned that, by some ac- 

 cident, I should have mislaid this entire fleece j but this 

 specimen, together with numbers 2 and 3, certainly proves 

 the proposition, that vi'ool of the fourth cross may become 

 at least equal to that of the original Spaniard. 



This proposition will admit of further confirmation, by 

 taking into the comparison the scoured fleece. No. 5, which 

 is that of the Spanish ram last presented by the King to this 

 society. 



I may add, that, except by accident, the wool of no 

 dip, short of the fourth, equals in fineness that of Spain. 



II. By breeding from select Merino-Ryeland rams and 

 ewes of this stock, sheep may be obtained, the fleeces of 

 which are superior both to those of the cross-bred parents, 

 and of course to those of the origin^ progenitors of the pure 

 Merino blood in England. 



For the truth of this proposition, I refer to Nos. 6 and 7, 

 the fleeces of rams, the sons of the Merino-Ryeland ram. 

 No. 4, who is the son of the pure Spaniard, No. I. These 

 fleeces are evidently much finer than either of the former, 

 and, I verily believe, than any ram's fleeces ever exhibited 

 in this island. I have unfortunately omitted to save the 

 fleeces of the parent ewes, but I can positively assert that 

 they were not superior to the ewe's fleece. No. 3. 



The ram's fleece. No. 8, is also of an excellent quality. 

 He is brother to Nos. 6 and 7. 



I beg that the committee would examine not only the R. 

 wool, but also the F. T. and K. of the specimens, Nos. G 

 and 7, comparatively with those of the pure Spaniards, 

 Nos. 1 and 5. I believe they will agree with me, that the 

 second, or F. wool, of these fleeces, is at least equal to the 

 R. or best wool of the pure Spaniards ; and the fleeces taken 

 together are finer than those of Nos. 2, 3, and 4, the 

 Merino-Ryeland race from which they immediately de- 

 scended. 



This position I have, from accident, been able to establish 



on a large scale. Having no Spanish ram in the year 1801, 



1 put all mv breeding ewes to the Merino-Ryeland ram, 



. . ' . No. 4, 



