28 



BIUTISH wool, TttA.DE. 



but I have had hitherto no opportunit)' of tryine the 

 difference by the former. The fifth cross, as 1 have 

 before observed, brings the merino- Wilts wool to ttie 

 same standard as the merino-Ryeland." 



(36.) Bratting injurious to Wool — Wool renderta 

 fine by clothing sheep, is never equal to that which 

 owes its perfection to natural causes. The Saxon 

 wool, which is principally produced by aitificial means, 

 has been compared, from its inelastic sickly appearance, 

 to grass that has been secluded from the sun. The 

 custom of bratting is therefore not to be recommended, 

 and indeed is now nearly laid aside. Housing sheep 

 with the same intentions is also bad, inasmuch as it 

 must affect their health, and destroy the curl of the 

 fibre. Shelter is however absolutely necessary from 

 extremes both of heat and cold, as temperature has 

 much influence on the covering of animals, and in none 

 more than the sheep. 



CHAPTER III. 



EHITISH WOOL TttADE. 



(37.) Origin of the TFoo/ r^acfe.— Wool, since Edn 

 closed its gates on our progenitors has been a currera 

 2oin, an important material, on which has been em- 

 ployed the skill and industry of almost every tribe, and 

 beei> the means of raising many a petty people to the 

 hard-won dignity of a nation. Man, at first placed in 

 a comfortable temperature, needed little as a defence 



