C 130 ) 



difFuf-.^d and increafed through the country, be brought to a 

 more equal level, in point of price with the Norfolk, Welfli, 

 and all thofe breeds fo -juPiIy held in requifition for the 

 finenefs of their wool, and the firperior excellence in the 

 flavour uf their rrjutton. 



The leading and charaderiftic qualities of the high, and 

 and full bred Norfolk and Southdown flieep-, appear upon 

 comparifon to be nearly thefe : the wool of both is found to 

 be of the firft cloathing quality, but the larger quantity is 

 produced from the Southdown. The mutton of both is 

 equally delicious. But the quiet? and gentle Southdown in 

 pafture, muft be oppofed to the wild impatient ramblings of 

 the Norfolk, whofe conftant exercife not only excites con- 

 tinual appetite, but at the fame titne occafions confiderable 

 wafte in the pafture, by treading down and unnecelfarily 

 fpoiling a great deal of what they do not eat. For this ex- 

 traordinary exertion on the part of the Norfolk fheep, ia 

 thus (as it were) wantonly deftroying a large portion of food 

 that is prepared for its fubfiftence ; there does not appear 

 from the experiment abovenoticed, to be the fmalleft occafion, 

 at leaft to put it on an equal footing with the Southdown in 

 that particular ; for it is evidently demonftrated by that ex- 

 periment, that in an equally fized fheep, the heavieft, and 

 moft capacious ftomach, and confequently requiring the 

 greateft quantity of food, is found to appertain to the Nor- 

 folk fheep. The hardinefs of the Southdown, enduring wet 

 and cold lodging, and a greater degree of abftinence and 

 fatigue than the Norfolk in the fold, is a fuperiority of much 

 moment ; and only to be equalled by another, which they 

 poftefs in a very fuperior degree, which is that of doing well 

 upon coarfe four pafture?. Thefe are fairly to be contrafted 

 with the delicate conftitution, and the tender aromatic herbage, 



required 



