SEPTEMBER. 483 



making these importations for the purpose of 

 breeding, that there are not many districts where 

 a farmer has not a choice. The new Leicester first, 

 and then the South Downs, have made remarkable 

 inroads in various parts of the kingdom. The 

 former come in competition with all the long- 

 woolled breeds; and the latter with all the short 

 and middling-woolled ones. When bred in suffi- 

 cient plenty to be had as wethers, the new Leicester 

 are generally to be preferred. The only doubtful 

 exception I have heard is, when wool sells high, upon 

 very rich marsh land In Lincolnshire. I know of 

 no competition between the South Downs and 

 other fme-woolled breeds, in which the South 

 Downs should not be preferred. In buying wether 

 lambs for mountainous moors in the North of 

 England, the black- faced long coarse- woolled 

 Scotch are the common sort, and I believe much 

 superior to any other, for regions of real and severe 

 hardship. 



In all this matter, the young farmer is to bear in 

 mind, that for an annual stock, he is to discard all 

 prejudices that are attended with expence; these 

 must be transferred to the breeding systems, and 

 there well considered before they are adopted. 



CRONES. 



It is a common system in many enclosed districts* 

 tp buy old crones in September, to put the ram to 

 them in October, and to sell the lambs as they be- 

 come fat for the butcher, and then to fatten the 



i i 2 mothers^ 



