[12] 



country it preserves all its distinguishing marks, provided 

 it receives a sufficient amount of provision and attention. 

 It also has a tenderness and juiciness far in advance of 

 many others. 



When the southern parts of Spain fell into the hands of the 

 Moors, the change of masters was rather beneficial than 

 otherwise to the immense flocks of sheep in that rich 

 country, for the Moors were enterprising, and established 

 many factories for the production of fine woolen fabrics, 

 which they sold to surrounding nations. After their expul- 

 sion by Ferdinand and Isabella, the Spanish grandees 

 sedulously preserved and zealously fostered the herds and 

 factories, knowing the riches that followed the industry. 

 So greatly were they appreciated that no sheep were allowed 

 to be exported except by royal consent. 



Henry VIII., however, obtained permission from Charles 

 V. to carry some into England, and he succeeded in getting 

 about three thousand into England, which, mixed with the 

 common breeds already there in scant numbers, gave rise to 

 the many excellent crosses now known as Leicester, Cots- 

 wold, Southdown, Rye-land, and some others. This sover- 

 eign gave great encouragement to sheep growing, throwing 

 around it all the protection he could by law, preventing the 

 exportation of wool, which had hitherto all found its way 

 into Flanders for its manufactories. He so fostered it that 

 by him and succeeding kings the sheep interest has increased 

 from a few thousand long legged, ragged, coarse- wool sheep 

 to over 60,000,000 at the present time. 



As an evidence of the profitable character of sheep hus- 

 bandry, it has been remarked that wherever a shepherd 

 takes possession of a country with his flocks there they re- 

 main. When the Romans, under Coriolanus, and other 

 leaders, conquered Spain, these fine breeds of sheep were 

 all over the country, and Spain has ever since, until within 

 a few years, maintained its pre-eminence as a sheep growing 

 country, though, from political disturbances, and other ad- 



