OXFORDSHIRE SHEEP, &C. 47 



the New Testament. The boy's mind was never refreshed by the consciousness 

 that he was every day making Iresh acquisitions of knowled£,'o, as it should be, 

 by instruction in natural history and in things calculated to elucidate and enliven 

 the business and the cares of life — but the pone, such as described, we know to 

 be excellent for dinner bread. We did not like it so well when fried, and given 

 for breakfast before going to school. ''Wheat bread" for school, forever. It 

 looks more genteel, too — so at least we used to think.] 



OXFORDSHIRE SHEEP : 



SHEARING THEM, AND THE WEKillT OF THE FLEECE.S. 

 BY DR. J. VV. THOMSON. 

 John S. Skinner, Esq. Editor of Farniors' Library : Wilmington, Tlcl., May 18, 1846. 



Ml/ Dear Sir — Having just returned from Maj. Reybold's annual Sheep Shear- 

 ing of his home flock of some 500 Leicester Sheep, whose fleeces varied from 

 6 to 8 and IH lbs., I cannot ibrcgo the gratification of speaking to you particu- 

 larly of the clip of Mr. Clayton Reybold's two Oxfordshire bucks, selected last 

 year by himself from Mr. Large's flock in England, and, with some six or eight 

 fine ewes, now on Reybold's farm, where of course he is propagating this fine 

 breed, or combing Wool stock with the view of sale, and meeting the demand 

 in the United States of the stufl' and Mouslin de Laine manufacturers. En- 

 closed is a specimen of the Wool of buck A, whose measurement around the body 

 is 7 feet 4^ inches — length from nose to rump, 5 feet — width across the back, three 

 feet — aged two years — live weight, 320 lbs. His fleece was tested by a Com- 

 mittee, and weighed 17 lbs. strong weight. Buck B, same age, measured 7 feet 

 in circumference under the shoulders — 5 feet 2 inches from nose to rump, and 2 

 feet 2 inches across the back : weight of fleece, 13 lbs. 



The Wool was well Avashed on their backs a week previous to shearing. I 

 enclose you a sample of this wool, and only regret with the patriarchal Major and 

 his numerous sons and other guests, that you were not present to jiarlakc of one of 

 his " fatted lambs." I have, I hope, prevailed upon Mr. Clayton Reybold to ex- 

 hibit these fleeces, with some of his other flne clips, at the American Fair at 

 Washington. As a more detailed account of this sheep shearing will appear 

 hereafter, I will only add that these last Sheep are fully worth a long ride from 

 any part of our.country to see ; and in beholding the Major's flocks, the agricultu- 

 ral thrift and improvement of our little State will be fully appreciated. 



I hope you got my letter, with one from Maj. Jones, on Drill-Husbandry. — 

 Hoping to see you either at, or going or returning from Washington, I must sub- 

 scribe myself, hastily, Your simere friend, JAMES W. THOMSON. 



TABLE OF MISCELLANEOUS DENOMINATIONS. 



In copying extracts from foreign works, frequent use is made of terms and de- 

 nominations with which the American reader is not fomiliar. Some of these terms 

 are obsolete, but we think best to give them all. The following table will be 

 found useful as a reference in such cases. 



A puncheon of prunes \,1'20 Iba. 



A firkin of butter 5H lbs. 



A firkin of soap 64 lbs. 



A barrel of potashes 200 lbs. 



A barrel of anchovies 30 lbs. 



A barrel of caudles 120 lbs. 



A foiher of lead 19J cwt. 



A barrel of soap 2ri(; ll)s. 



A barrel of raisins 112 lbs. 



A barrel of butter 224 lbs. 



A stone of glaes lbs. 



(95) 



A sack of coals 224 lbs. 



A keel 21 tons 4 cwt. 



A ship load 20 keels. 



A hundred of lime 2.5 bushels. 



A ton of potatoes 40 do. 



A last SO do. 



A pint of butter li 'bs. 



A truss of straw 36 lbs. 



A tru.ss of old hay 56 lbs. 



A truss of new hay 60 lbs. 



A load - 36 trueeo* 



