99 



lection of the fines t-wooled, or the preservation of purity of 

 blood. Of the finest-wooled Saxony sheep very little pure 

 stock is to be found in the county. Of the sheep found in this 

 county, generally, the average yield of well-washed wool is 

 about three pounds. This, however, must be considered as a 

 large estimate. From the accounts of the product in wool, 

 given at the time of the introduction of the merino into the 

 country from Spain, when four pounds and more to a sheep 

 were stated as the yield of whole flocks, there would seem to 

 have been a decline in their productiveness. This is, however, 

 with more probability, attributable to the cleaner washing of 

 the wool, than what formerly prevailed. It may be likewise 

 that, at that time, when from their rareness they were exorbi- 

 tantly valued compared with present prices, they were kept 

 with much more liberality than they now are. The effect of 

 high keeping is to increase the quantity of the wool, while it 

 renders it less fine. It may be owing, in some degree, to ano- 

 ther circumstance, which is the suffering the breed to deteriorate 

 from a want of care and selection in the propagation. The 

 yield of the pure Saxony is seldom more than two pounds to 

 a sheep, and, in many large flocks, it is less than this. In one 

 case where the wool was of a very superior quality, the yield 

 was only one pound and ten ounces per head. Yet I know, 

 on the other hand, where extraordinary skill and care are used 

 both in the keeping and breeding of the sheep, at least three 

 extensive flocks, the average yield of which is nearly three 

 pounds of well-washed wool, which has commanded one, and 

 sometimes one and a half dollar per lb. 



The hilly portions of the county are well adapted to the 

 sheep husbandry, though of late years the fluctuations and 

 the reduction in the prices of wool have discouraged it. There 

 is, however, as far as the raising of wool is concerned, a com- 

 pensation for this in the low price of the fine-wooled sheep, 

 compared with that which they formerly commanded. The 

 sheep are kept in general until five and seven years old ; and 

 the annual increase of a well-managed flock, may be set down 



