AGRICULTURAL AlUSEUM 147 



of Rams, oS the country breeds, previous to 1802, was 

 ■ivom three to five dollars. — Tiie Persian was pcrliaps 

 tJifi highest pr].ecd Ram sold from the Ilevolution up 

 to 1302. 



(c) Tlic Muiionnflhis Country — The mutton of Virgi- 

 nia has always been deemed excellent. The best mutton 

 lias however been derived from tlie Sheep of Citrracootj 

 imported many years isince, and genei-ally extended. The 

 tail of tJicse animals is esteeme(l a great dehcaey, altho' 

 by no means so large as that of the Barhary race. The 

 Curracoa arc aill coarse wooled, tho' very thrifty in feed- 

 ing, and fatten at an early age. General Washington 

 received as a present, from a Mr. Athol, of Antigua, 

 some West India Sheep, perfectly hairy and much re- 

 sembling Deer, but delicious as mutton. These tropica.! 

 strangers soon lost their hair, which softened into wool 

 as a protection from the inclemency of a colder climarte- 

 "^"rom the facts of eoarsc vvooled Sheep always pro- 

 ducing the best mutton, at aH ages and in all countries, 

 it may fairly be supposed, that JMeiinos will fail in thes.e 

 j-e^pects; but if the iVIerinos me not so well suited ta 

 the interior, they are certainly amply provided with 

 every requisite for the exterior economy of our citizens. 



(c?) The hcaviist Fleece. The fleece of Bakewell, tbc 

 first premium Lamb at the Arlington Shccp-Shcaring in 

 1805, weighed 12 lbs. 5o?;. clean wool — In answer to 

 certain queries proposed to the ageifit at Smith's island, 

 and others cwiversant therewith, 13 lbs. is reported as 

 the greatest fh;ece ; but as the Smith Island sheep hav^e 

 generally a good deal of sand in their tfeeces, Bakew ell's 

 fleece may be considered as sujicrior. — IVIr. Foote's Bad* 

 ger, a kimb of Mr. Peter's, and one of Mr. Calvert's? 

 all of tli^ Arlington long woolcd, -averaged 10 lbs.— -6 lbs. 

 of clean v,ool is nevertheless im ample and indeed a 

 great average fleece for American flocks. 



(c) The Pi i -.c rf Wool. The price varies — Wool to 

 \hc South is generally sold in the dirt, from'one tp three 

 shillings per pound — Thirty cents ought to be deemed 



