WINTER MANAGEMENT. 215 



will be duly assigned hereafter ; but in common parlance, 

 the answer is, because the comfort of the animal is thereby 

 promoted ; and it will not be denied that this is equally ap- 

 plicable to the sheep. Hence, if the animal will better retain 

 its flesh, or be likely to receive accessions from being shel- 

 tered, because it conduces to greater comfort, it follows that 

 its fleece will be increased proportionally ; for the flesh se- 

 cretions and the wool fluids are derived from the same 

 source ; and any cause which will increase or diminish the 

 one will operate thus on the other. But the following facts 

 will supersede for the present further theorizing : 



The clips of the writer's flock, (which is of the Saxon 

 Merino blood) before sheltering, varied from 2 lbs. 5 oz. to 2 

 lbs. 9 oz. per head, the latter, under the most favorable cir- 

 cumstances, being the maximum. But since then, notwith- 

 standing material advances have been made in fineness, it 

 has averaged 2 lbs. 12 oz., and the last season arose to 3 lbs. 

 2 oz. ; and thus the aggregate amount of increase, within 

 about nine years, exceeds 2000 pounds, which has amply re- 

 imbursed all expenses incident to the construction of barns, 

 shelters, and their appendages, to say nothing of other profits 

 derived from the same cause. 



The additional softness of the fleece, and also cA^enness 

 and soundness of the fibre, may be traced to the same cause 

 which increases its weight ; for if the cutaneous glands are 

 full and healthy, which follows good condition, greater sup- 

 plies of yolk are imparted to the wool, conferring greater 

 pliability, elasticity, and brilliancy, and, at the same time, 

 promoting greater equality in the growth of the filament. 

 Hence it is that in Spain, Australia, and other countries cor- 

 responding in mildness and equability of climate, the wool 

 of the sheep possesses a degree of softness and imiformity 

 of growth unequalled by any other, which arises, for the 

 most part, from the evenness of the condition of the sheep 

 through the year, and consequently regular supply of yolk, 

 not being checked in its flow at any period by extreme cold. 

 From this cause, the true Spanish, Merino, and Austrahan, 

 to use the phraseology of manufacturers, " work more kindly" 

 than all other fine wools ; and less wastage follows in the 

 process of cloth making, occasioned by their soundness and 

 toughness. 



Another material source of profit, induced by better con- 

 dition from sheltering, is the increased number of lambs. 



