8 The Shepherds* Guide, 



for twelve preceding years, raising a large iong- 

 woolled breed, with a mixture of BakewelFs cele- 

 brated New Leicester. He describes his farm, 

 situate in the vale of Taunton, one of the most 

 fertile spots in the kingdom ; yet he found these 

 large sheep depreciate in size at the rate of near 

 five pounds per quarter in every four years. 

 Upon making the change, he at once put 150 

 Ryelands, a small close-woolled sheep, upon the 

 same land which had carried only 45 of the large 

 breed ; and notwithstanding a severe winter, the 

 ewes maintained themselves tolerably well, and 

 the lambs, at weaning time-, were in the best order. 

 The Merino is a hearty feeder, and not deli- 

 cate in the choice of his food, but will feed on a 

 greater variety of plants than most other sheep, 

 and keep himself in good condition on moderate 

 pasture. From this circumstance, connected 

 with his disposition to fatten at an early age, very 

 considerable profits may be derived from wethers 

 by keeping them as a dry flock, until they are 

 three years of age. The shape of the Merino is 

 that point, which, in the eye of an English farmer, 

 or of those who have formed their opinion in 

 imitation of his, is most objected to. His throat 

 is thick, and incumbered with a loose pendulous 

 skin, or dewlap, accompanied by a corresponding- 

 hollow in his neck, nor in general among those 

 imported, do we find that strait back, round 

 shoulder, broad hip and loin, and full ham which. 



