Li ve Stock Sheep Methods of diflinguijhing the Breeds of. 



the purpofes of breeding, grazing, or the fattening of their lambs, it is obvious 

 that they muft conftitute an objedl of the firft confequence to the farmer. In 

 many fituations, by much the greateft part, and in others the whole of his profits 

 depend upon them. 



In difpofition, the fheep is naturally tame, quiet, and inoffenlive. It is pof- 

 fefTed o fiefs means of defence than mod other animals, and at the fame time 

 more timid ; which induces it to feek the fociety of the flock. The vak or paf- 

 ture fheep are in general much more mild and gentle than thofe of the mountain 

 or heath kinds. The meep continues to increafe in growth till three years old, 

 when it is in common in the greateft perfection for the purpofe of being fattened, 

 but will be fuitable for this ufe, as well as that of breeding, till five or fix ; but 

 as a quick return is the great object of the grazier, they are moftly fattened at 

 as early an age as podible. 



The breeds and varieties of fheep that are fcattered over the ifland are extreme 

 ly numerous; but have been arranged and diftinguifhed under different clafTes or 

 breeds, by different farmers, in a variety of methods, as from their having horns 

 or being without them, from the nature of their wool and various other circumftan- 

 ces :* but whatever may be the principle of diftinction that is adoped, it is evi 

 dent that they poJTefs characte.riftic differences that may ferve to difcriminate 

 them into diftindt original breeds. 



* It has been remarked by Lord Somerville in his &quot; Syftern of the Board of Agriculture, * that 

 &quot; all the breeds of flieep in this kingdom may be arranged into two claffes ; thofe which fhear the 

 fliort, or clothing, a nd thofe which /hear the long, or combing wool.&quot; 



The practical author of the Prefent State of Hufbandry in Great Britain has arranged them under 

 the thiec following general divisions.; 



* ** f * * *** * ,-i 1 1 A w J j jLt. V 4 W 2 _w t. - 



1ft. The Mountain Breed. 



;v bt /loqfnOD :;l!&amp;gt; ! );-Ii&quot; &quot;!;.;3li &amp;gt;; ,, -,y ; j--;;-7 Drff 



2d. The fliprt-woolled breed : and 



fi naw.i O j rru T n j^L; 1 j- ! - ; 



3d. The Long-woolled breed. 



The firft comprehending the federal varieties that occupy the different mountainous and elevated 

 fituations in Wales, Weftmoreland, Cumberland, Yorkfhire, the South, Weft, and North of-Scot- 

 land, and in the Shetland Iflands; the Cheviot-hills in the South of Scotland and North of England, 

 and the foreft a nd common fheep of thelaft country. 



In the fecond are included thofe of Hereford, Dorfet, S ufiex, Norfolk, and fome parts of Cumberland. 



The laft divifion embraces all thofe varieties that are difperfed over the more rich and fertile parts 

 of England, and which are diftinguifhed under the titles of the Durham or Teeswaters, the 

 fliires, the old and new Leicefterftiires, &c, 

 3 



