100 ON THE STATE OF IRELAND. [BOOK I. 



whether the quantity of sheep increased or diminished; 

 whether the breeds were better in proportion to the quan- 

 tity of wool and of meat, and to their quality, and also 

 what were the obstacles to more extensive breeding. 



In some districts the answer was, that the quantity 

 of sheep was diminishing, in proof of which a statement 

 was given of the number sold each year at the great fairs, 

 showing that from 1830 to 1834 there was a much smaller 

 number sold than from 1812 to 1816. In other di- 

 stricts it was stated, that the number had increased, as 

 the quantity of arable land had much diminished, on 

 account of the great advantage derived from rearing. 



Generally speaking, there has been some improvement 

 in the wool : the weight of the fleece is from four to five 

 pounds in certain breeds, and from seven to eight in others, 

 and even nine pounds for the rams. In the barony of 

 Dromahair two shearings are made in the year, one in the 

 autumn and the other in the spring, because the great 

 moisture causes the wool to fall off. The weight of the 

 two clippings is nine pounds. 



There has been some improvement likewise in the" quan- 

 tity of meat : the weight of a sheep varies from 70 Ibs. to 

 100 Ibs. ; there is less bone and more flesh than formerly. 

 The sheep are killed at from two years and a half to three 

 years old. The obstacles to rearing a greater quantity of 

 sheep are, according to the witnesses, the want of capital 

 to drain the land and form good pastures, and, almost 

 throughout Ireland, the number that are stolen ; for 

 some time the depredators have been so daring, that they 

 do not carry them away, but shear them in the night. 

 In several baronies the foxes and eagles commit great 

 havoc among the lambs. 



