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ftallions that could be found in the neighbouring 

 diftriifls, fo that the tenants might be accommo- 

 dated without any great expence or trouble. It was 

 by this means that the breeding of blood horfes came 

 into fuch general pradice here. And therefore, if 

 the proprietors were to adopt this plan, it would in- 

 duce their tenants to turn their attention to the 

 breeding of fuch horfes as are ufeful in the opera- 

 tions of hufbandry, as well as for various other pur- 

 pofes ; for which the county is peculiarly well fi- 

 tuated, the diftance from London being fo great as 

 to prevent the farmer from experiencing a rife of 

 rent, or an additional charge for labour on that ac- 

 count ; while he is, on the other hand, within the 

 reach of the bell market which this or any other 

 kingdom can afford for the fale of draught horfes. 



Sheep. — There are here three different breeds of 

 fheep, which may be clafTed as follows, viz. The 

 original breed of the county, the old improved, and 

 the late improved, or new Leicefter breed. About 

 50 or 60 years ago, when this diftridl was in gene- 

 ral in the open field ftate, no attention was paid to 

 the improvement of the breed of Iheep. The points 

 which marked a good Iheep, in the opinion of the 

 people of thofe days, were, the wool thick fet on the 

 back, an open rump, loin wide, legs open, and 

 bones clean from wool, oppofed to what is now call- 

 ed gum or coarfenefs. They were generally fent to 

 market from i\ to 4 years old, and weighed on an 

 average about 18 lb. the quarter. This breed, how- 

 ever, are now very rare, being confined to thofe 

 parts of the county vphere commons abound. 



About 25 years ago an improvement was at- 

 tempted, by crofling the ancient breed with tups 

 from Warwicklhire and Lincolnfhire, the breed of 

 WarwicTclhire being noted for great bone or fize, 

 and that of Lincolnfhire for the quantity of wool. 



O With 



