6S ACIllCULTURAL MUrfKUM 



stocked with one hundred and fifty Ryelands in their 

 stead. The neighbours said they would all be starv- 

 ed ; the winter was severe, but the ewes maintained 

 themselves moderately well, and their lambs, at wean- 

 iiig time, were in the very best order. The ewes were 

 depastured on the high lands, west of the Vale of Taun- 

 ton, during the sueceeding surtimer, at the rate of ten 

 per acre, and came back into the Vale in good store 

 state. One lot of these tWo-tooth sheep was bought by 

 a farmer in the neighbourhood, and put in turnips ; be- 

 tween Candlemas and Lady-day they were a'l killed ; 

 and on an average they turned out more pounds of 

 rough fat than they were pounds per (juarter. Land of 

 the Vale of Taunton might have supported coarse- 

 woolled sheep in size, had they been pushed in first 

 year's grass, or buried in red clover up to their knees, 

 and the refuse mown afterwards for hay ; but this was 

 buying a good thing too dear ; it is not the size of indi^ 

 vidual sheep, but the--quantity of g^od meat and wool 

 per acre which must enrich the farmer, and feed the 

 public; and we wish to impress him with the convic- 

 tion, that no breeds of sheep should be carried into dis- 

 tricts ill adapted, both as to soil and climate, to receive 

 them ; that, in exertion to improve the carcass, be should 

 not forget there is such an article as wool ; and that the 

 breed of sheep which, on any given quantity of land, car- 

 ries for a continuance the most wool, as well as flesh, 

 and both of the highest quality, is that breed to be prefer- 

 red, of whatever description it may be, or from what- 

 ever country it may come. 



It is to be lamented that we have been such slaves to 

 size, and that the eye can hardly resist it. A medium is 

 most desiral)le ; but, if extremes are to be admitted, 

 ^^ iihout a doubt the small sheep, fine in its grain, is a more 

 marketable commodity. The rich will have it, because its 

 quality is superior ; in short because it cats better; the 

 poor man will find its joints more adapted to the strength 

 of his puisc ; and the dearer meat is to be, the more this 

 argument applies ; for legs and shoulders of mutton can- 



