DANISH SHEEP. 95 



They were introduced into that high latitude as early as 

 1723 by Mr. Alstroemer, an enterprising agriculturist, and 

 was deemed at the time a presumptuous, indeed, an almost 

 insane attempt. He triumphed over all difficulties, which 

 induced the Swedish government to yield its patronage, by 

 the formation of an agricultural school, which offered pre- 

 miums for the best Spanish Merinos, and on the sale of the 

 best wool. 



A brief notice of the mode of management in this extreme 

 northern latitude may be acceptable. 



" The system of migration is completely abandoned. 

 Both the native and imported sheep, after having been pas- 

 tured during the day, are usually housed at night at all sea- 

 sons, on account of the great number of wolves. The 

 peasantry and small farmers have these houses too confined 

 and crowded ; the better sheep-master has them large and 

 well ventilated. The native Swedish flocks are kept in 

 these buildings when the weather is unusually severe ; 

 the Merinos are housed during the six winter months ; but 

 scarcely any inclemency of weather will prevent the whole 

 flock being driven out daily, at least for a few minutes, in 

 order to breathe the fresh air while the sheep-house is clean- 

 ed. The Merino sheep are seldom used for breeding until 

 they are two and a half years old, and are fattened for the 

 butcher at seven."* 



The native sheep of Sweden are an inferior race in all 

 respects, but the wool of which is strong, and valuable for 

 the clothing of the peasantry. 



DANISH SHEEP. 



The native sheep of Denmark correspond with those of 

 Sweden, Norway, and the more northern parts of Russia. 

 The head is long and thin, the neck arched, the eye small, 

 the countenance mild, the legs and tail without wool. 



In 1797 the government was influenced, by the example 

 of Sweden, to patronize the Merinos. Accordingly 300 

 Leonese Transhumantes were procured and located in the 

 vicinity of Copenhagen. By careful and skilful manage- 

 ment the success in propagating them equalled expectation ; 

 and by crossing them with native sheep, a fair wool was 

 procured. 



* Youatt. 



