and Extension of the Merino Breed of Sheep: 339 



PART I. 



NATURE, PRODUCE, ORIGIN, AND EXTENSION OF THE 

 MERINO BREED OF SHEEP. 



CHAPTER I. 



Omstion proposed by the Board of Agriculture. — Quantity and Value of the 

 superfine Wool imported into England from foreign Countries. 



1 H E Board of Agriculture having thought it worthy of their attention to offer a 

 premium for " the best essay on the growth of wool from the Spanish breed of 

 *' sheep, or from some cross between the Spanish and British breeds, in Great Bri- 

 " tain, which shall include a detail of experiments made, with a full explanation of 

 *' the advantages that may have attended them in respect of wool, carcase, applica- 

 " tion of food, freedom from distempers, cross in the breed, &c. ; and which shall 

 " point out the most effective means of spreading this race of sheep;" I shall en- 

 deavour, in the best manner I can, to fulfil the views of the Board. In so doing, 

 I shall think myself justified in taking a wider field than that which is described in 

 the terms of this premium ; and shall draw from every pure source within my reach, 

 such facts as my serve to inform the agriculturist and the public on a subject of 

 such great and increasing importance. 



In order to afford the reader some means of learning the magnitude of the object 

 of which I am about to treat, I lav before him the following statement, derived 

 from good authority, more particularly from an account delivered to Parliament 

 during the present session, of the wool purchased in foreign countries in the years 

 1802, 1803, and 1804, 3"d employed in Great Britain for the manufacture of our 

 finest woollen goods ; in which statement I shall include the probable expence to 

 this country of the wool so purchased. 



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