SHEEP. 41 



sole dependence of his stock throughout the 

 winter. But his farm buildings are not at all 

 adequate to the requirements of such a farm, 

 and his stock in winter is foddered in the 

 open fields, where the animals must well nigh 

 starve, there being neither hedge nor shelter 

 of any kind to mitigate the severity of the 

 cold. This practice, in which the Colonel is 

 not singular, but which on the contrary is a 

 very general one, may well account for their 

 miserable appearance, as it is not easy other 

 wise to explain why cattle fed on good mea 

 dow hay, should at the end of winter be found 

 in such a condition ; and this too happens in 

 a country where timber is a drug, and hovels 

 might be run up in every direction at little 

 expense. 



His flock as mentioned are all Merinos, or 

 are so styled, and their value consists chiefly 

 in their wool, little account being had of the 

 carcase which at three or four years old brings 

 only from 8s. to 10s. The weight of fleece 

 is 3 Ib. which sells at 2s. of our money per 

 pound, each sheep thus yielding for wool 6s. 



per annum. 



D 



