The Shepherds'* Guide, S7 



equally fine on the rump as on the shoulder : and 

 as far as possible on every other part of the bo- 

 dy : and the shape should likewise be attended 

 to. A small head, a strait back, a square loin, 

 a round barrel, and short legs are in general pre- 

 ferred J and when connected with a lively eye, and 

 a soft skin of a rosy hue, secieting abundance 

 of }'olk, are accounted sure signs of health and 

 vigour, with a ready disposition to fatten. Size 

 alone, is an object of less moment ; as it has been 

 unquestionably proved, that the same quantity of 

 pasture will produce as much, or more wool and 

 mutton, from small sheep (m other respects equal) 

 than from large. 



It is hardly necessary to add, that the nearer the 

 ewe approaches in the quality of her wool, as 

 well as in her shape, to those qualities which we 

 seek for in the ram, the sooner we shall arrive at 

 the excellence we wish to acquire and propagate. 

 This is a point to which every breeder has it in 

 his power to attend ; we possess a considerable 

 variety of sheep, from which he may make his 

 selection : and the more attentive he is to it the 

 greater will be his profits. It is only necessary to 

 caution him from being tempted by the large size 

 and heavy fleeces of those sheep which have a 

 considerable mixture of English blood. If he 

 chooses such, he will probably be put back one 

 cross in his improvement. It is from among our 



