96 FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



fer the sheep which produces it in greatest abundance. 

 But in the production of pure wool, my own opinion 

 is that the heaviest fleeced animals of the two varie- 

 ties do not materially differ not more perhaps than 

 is inevitable, other things being equal by reason of 

 that law of matter which gives small spherical bodies 

 more surface in proportion to weight and diameter 

 than larger ones. The carcass of a sheep has sufficient 

 sphericity to make this law applicable to it. A better 

 idea of its practical effects will be obtained from an 

 examination of the following table, prepared in rela- 

 tion to round shot : 



Diameter in "Weight in Surfaces in Inches of surface to 



inches. pounds. inches. one pound weight. 



2 1,092 12.56636 11.50 



3 3,685 28.27431 7.69 



4 8,736 50.26544 5.75 



5 17',063 78.53975 4.60 



6 29,484 113.09724 3.83 



7 46,820 153-93791 3.28 



8 69,889 201.06176 2.81 



It will be observed that while the disparity in pro- 

 portionable surface between the extremes given, is 

 enormous, that it diminishes as between larger spheres. 

 But notwithstanding this, all must see that between 

 spheroidal bodies differing fifty per centum in size 

 and weight (equivalent to the difference between the 

 French and American Merino), the greater propor- 

 tionable surface of the smaller body must be sufficient 

 to make a material difference in its favor if that sur- 

 face is to be covered with wool of equal thickness 

 and length. To express the result more practically, 

 the American Merino has more square inches of sur- 

 face, in proportion to its size, for wool to grow on, 

 than has the larger French Merino. And the general 



