AND RURAL ECONOMIST. 



219 



tet, Devonshire Nots, ExTnoor, Heath, the Bakeiuell or Dishley 

 breeds, &:c. &c. The origin of the last-mentioned breed 

 of sheep is thus described by an English writer : 



' Mr. Bakewell selected from his own flock, and from the 

 flocks of others, those sheep to breed from which possessed 

 in the greatest degree that perfection of form he was de- 

 sirous to retain and perpetuate. By judiciously crossing 

 them, and selecting the most perfect of their progeny, he at 

 length succeeded in forming the breed, which has been dis- 

 tinguished by the name of the New Leicester, or Dishley 

 breed ; and having attained his object, he carefully guarded 

 against any future intermixtures with other breeds. This 

 breed exceeds all others in its propensity to fatten ; and by 

 crossing by rams with this breed, a considerable portion of 

 the long-wooied sheep in England have been greatly im- 

 proved in this respect. 



' The peculiar characters of these sheep have been well 

 described by Mr. Culley, an eminent grazier in Northumber- 

 land, who introduced the breed into that part of England. 

 The Dishley breed are distinguished from other long-wooled 

 breeds by their fine lively eyes, clean heads, straight, broad, 

 flat backs, round (barrel-like) bodies, very fine small bones, 

 t; i.i pelts, and inclination to fat at an early age. The last 

 property is probably owing to the before-specified qualities, 

 which, from observation and experience, there is reason to 

 believe extend generally through every species of domestic 

 quadrupeds. The Dishley breed is not only peculiar for the 

 mutton being fat, but also for the fineness of the grain ; the 

 flavor is superior to the mutton of most other long-wooled 

 breeds. The weight of the carcass may be stated in general : 

 ewes three or four years old, from eighteen to twenty-six 

 pounds per quarter ; wethers two years old, from twenty to 

 thirty pounds.' 



Among the short-wooled sheep, the English possess, besides 

 the Merino breed, South Doivns, the Ryeland, the Shropshire, 

 the Shetland, the Dorset, Wilts, &c. &c. Merino sheep were 

 first introduced into Great Britain in the year 1787 ; and 

 although it was formerly a general opinion, that the excel- 

 lence of their fleece depended in a great degree upon the 

 temperature of the Spanish climate, it has been ascertained 

 that the fineness of the Spanish wool is not impaired by 

 breeding the sheep in England, France, Saxony, Hungary, 

 Sec. 



It is important in the management of sheep to keep the 



