70 Essay on Sheep, 



English sheep which have been introduced into 

 this country degenerate much less on the sea 

 coast, than when they are conveyed beyond the 

 first ridge of mountains. England, Ireland, 

 and Flanders will supply the stock, if it should 

 be thought that those offered to the public by 

 Mr. Custis should not fall within my descrip- 

 tion. I should, however, both from his account 

 of the Arlington long-woolled breed, and from 

 the sample I have seen of their wool, think it 

 unnecessary to look further for a stock adapted 

 to the pastures in question. Their size will in- 

 crease with their pastures, and the length of 

 their wool with their size. For every other 

 description of pasture I think no doubt can be 

 entertained of the preference that should be 

 given to the Merino breed. These may be 

 found of such size and constitution as are adapt- 

 ed to any ground. Those that are dry and 

 barren, such as our shrub-oak plains, will 

 find in the small Merino, which are common 

 in most parts of Spain, a stock which will not 

 only subsist, but thrive on such grounds; and 

 though their fleeces are lighter, they are not 

 less fine than those of the larger and more im- 

 proved breeds. The faults in their form will, 

 by an attentive breeder, not fail to be gradually 

 corrected. From Spain may also be procured. 



