so AGRieULTUilALHiUSErM 



Attention has not been paid, in Spain, to the forrrt of 

 their shcv'ji ; and it must be evident to every judge of 

 stock, that a journey from tiie mountains of Ihc north to 

 the plains of the south of Spain, cannot be otherwise than 

 productive of more injury to the fi-ame and constitution 

 of the animal, thanof benelit to tlie llceee, wiiich, hice the 

 frame, is dependent on and nourished by the blood. 

 Does it stand to reason, that a long chift of four or five 

 liundnd miles every spring and autumn, and that at the 

 rate of eighty or a hundred miles per week, can be bene- 

 ficial to sheep ? Undoubtedly not. Have we a single 

 breed which eould support it uiunjured? None, which 

 Would not have been hunted into deformity. 



So far from thinking hot climates necessary to fine 

 ■wool, ^vc know that coarse-fleeced sheep are to be found 

 in many parts of Spain ; that in Portugal, wool, unmixed 

 with JNIerino blood, is, of the coarsest quality. We 

 know too, that after shearing, every pile is coarse, and 

 improves, both to the eye and touch, as the autumn ad- 

 vances. No race of sheep has ever been seen, even in 

 this northern climate, to be more impatient of heat, of 

 more oppressed by it, than the Merino. By due attenti- 

 on to food; by moderation and equality of keep; by 

 shelterin the winter months ; and by those common re- 

 gulations which induce heahh in the animal itself, we shall 

 stand as high, as to the produce of wool and meat, as any 

 nation in Europe. One inference may be clearly dedu- 

 ced froni the long drift and yolky fleece of the JVlerinos ; 

 namely, that they are eqiial, if not superior, to any breed 

 in these kingdoms to work in the fold. We may add, 

 that the length and thickness of wool covering their belly 

 and hind legs, together with a closeness of pile on the 

 back and loins, must of necessity enable them to sup- 

 port more severity of cold and wet than any breed as yet 

 introduced among us ; unless we admit, that length and 

 lineness of vvool are inseparably coimected with weak- 

 ness of constitution, which evidence from all quarters for- 

 bids us to do. With respect to the yolky fleece above 

 neticed, this property aloae demoiistitttes the supciiority 



