and Extension of the Merino Breed of Sheep. 407 



every respect, fully equal to that of Spain. Those sheep, which have been 

 neglected, have degenerated in point of size; but all which have been attended to, 

 and well managed, have become larger than the parent stock. The wool produce 

 has proportionably increased; so that, occasionally, a ram's fleece in the yolk has 

 weighed between 13 and i4lbs. 



Mr. Schulz has, in the province of Upland, a flock, tlie progenitors of which 

 came from Spain, about the year 1747. In order, if possible, to improve their 

 wool, he imported afterwards from Spain, at six different times, new rams, 

 chosen with great care by his nephew, Mr. Gahn, Swedish Consul at Madrid. 

 The result was, that all these rams, except those of the last importation in 1778, 

 were found to have wool inferior to that of his own flock. 



It should seem that, at present, the Swedes raise in their own country nearly as 

 much fine wool as is sufficient for their manufactures ; and, therefore, use little of 

 that which is grown in Spain. 



The more attentive cultivators in Sweden lodge their sheep, during the whole 

 year, in large and airy houses, the windows of which are always open during the 

 day, and which, in fine weather, are shut up with hurdles instead of doors. Even 

 in the severest part of the winter, they drive them out twice a day for the sake 

 of air. In the winter, which continues at least seven months, they feed them 

 in the house, allowing six feet by five, or, more usually, six feet square, to each 

 sheep. They give each, daily, something more than two English pounds of hay, 

 •with an addition of dried leaves of birch, willow, maple, alder, ash, elm, oak. See; 

 the leaves and stalks of the hop ; pease haulm, and barley or oat straw. The straw 

 and leaves are often moistened with the grains and liquid left after the distillation of 

 brandy. Sometimes they add a few oats, or the refuse of wheat. They find that 

 leaves, when given in a small proportion, are a liealthy sort of nourishment. 



During summer, the sheep are kept in the day time in the fallows, the stubbles, 

 or natural or artificial pastures, in which they are defended from the heat of the sun 

 by the shade of trees. If these are wanting, the sheep are turned under the floors 

 of the sheep houses, which are always raised some feet above the ground. The 

 Swedes have invaiiably found that extreme heat is more injurious to these animals 

 than great cold. Every night during the summer they are housed, partly by way of 

 security against the wolf and the lynx. They drink every day of running water. 

 Those of Baron Schulz are taken out to water twice a day during the coldest season^ 



