Essay on Sheep. 47 



and better treatment than sheep generally re- 

 ceive in France. Before I quit France it may 

 be proper to speak of the introduction into that 

 country of the Merino sheep, and of their 

 great improvement. 



It having been fully ascertained, by a variety 

 of experiments, patronized by the administra- 

 tion, and conducted by enlightened agricultu- 

 ralists, that the Merino sheep might be accli- 

 mated in France, without any change in their 

 wool, application was made by Lewis the six- 

 teenth to the King of Spain, for permission to 

 export from thence a number of Merinoes. 

 This was not only granted, but orders were 

 given by the Spanish Monarch that they should 

 be selected from the finest flocks in Spain. In 

 the year 1786 four hundred rams and ewes 

 arrived in France, under the care of Spanish 

 shepherds. These are said to have been so 

 much superior to any that had before been in- 

 troduced, as not to admit of any comparison 

 between them, which will easily be credited 

 by those who know the difference between 

 picked sheep and a whole flock taken together, 

 even when the sheep are of one race. But the 

 Merinoes differ essentially from each other even 

 in Spain; those of Castile unite size and beauty 

 to fineness of wool; the Leonese and the Sego- 



