Essay on Sheep, 53 



pamtion very difficult. The second is the short- 

 woolled sheep of England and Wales, that yield 

 the clothing wool: of these there are very 

 great varieties. Few however that I have met 

 with yield better wool than the common sheep 

 of our own country,* and in general their wool 

 is much worse, with the exception of one or 

 tw^o races, whose fleeces are very short and light, 

 and sell at about forty-eight cents the pound. 

 The South Down is at present the favourite, 

 next to the Leicestershire or Bakewell breed. 

 The South Down, both for size, quantity, and 

 quality of wool, very much resembles the best 

 of our sheep in the hands of good farmers. 

 Their fleeces weigh from three and a half 

 to four pounds, and sell at thirty cents per 

 pound. Neither of these breeds yield wool of 

 sufficient fineness for broadcloths of the first, 

 second, and third qualities; these are all made 

 from Spanish wool of different degrees of fine- 

 ness, without admixture. Of this wool near 

 seven millions of pounds are annually imported 

 into Britain. The third distinct breed of Eng- 

 land, and which is peculiarly their own, is the 

 sheep that carry long wool fit for combing; 

 and in this race they excel, I believe, every 



* I speak of the Northern, not being well acquainted with the Southern 

 States. 



