420 Dr. Parry's Essay on the Nature, Produce, Origin, 



in quantity of wool and size of carcase, we are told, that while the best nursing- 

 ewes, of the new importation in 1800, mentioned above, and amounting to 30, under 

 various favourable circumstances, and bearing fleeces of 13 months, produced only 

 qg-i kilogrammes of wool, or about 2271- lb. English, the same number of the 

 nursin" ewes of the improved Rambouillet breed, yielded in 12 months, and with 

 worse keep, 1 1 5^ kilogrammes, or about 2641b. 55:02. English ; which makes a 

 difference of 1 lb. 3-1:02. each fleece. 



The sheep were, at the same time, considerably increased in size. The 3 largest 

 rams and ewes of each sort being weighed, it was found that the weight of the rams 

 descended from the first importation exceeded that of the second, 13 kilogrammes, 

 667 grammes, oi about 31 lb. 87 oz. each ; and that of the ewes 12 kilograpimes, 

 goo grammes, or 28 lb. 5^ oz. each. The average height of the rams from the first 

 importation exceeded that of those of the second 8 centimetres, or 3.1656 inches 

 English ; that of the ewes 3 centimetres, or 1.1871 inch. In length (probably from 

 the nape of the neck to the root of the tail) the difference of the rams was 13 centi- 

 metres, or 5,1441 inches; and of the ewes, 22 centimetres, or 8.7054 inches. In 

 girt, round the largest part of the carcase, the superiority of the rams was 4 centi- 

 metres, or 1.5828 inches; and of the ewes 14 centimetres, or 5.5398 inches. 



I have seen several specimens of the Rambouillet wool of 1802, and possess 

 some from the same flock obtained for me by a near relative from M. Lasteyrie. 

 As far as I can judge of them by the naked eye, they are equal to the R. wool of 

 the Spanish piles. 



It appears from my former quotation, that the wool bears at least as great a 

 price as that of the Spanish in the yolk, in France ; and all the trials of it in cloth, 

 casimir. Sec. have proved it to be in no respect inferior in quality. ■* 



A school for shepherds has been established at Rambouillet, to which young 

 men are sent for instruction from the different departments in France, and 

 from private persons. For this privilege each pupil pays thirty shillings per 

 month. 



Besides that of Rambouillet, there are two other national establishments of Me- 

 rino sheep in France. One of these is at Pompadour, formed in 1798, from a 

 colony of the Rambouillet flock, composed of 70 ewes and 10 rams. In 1 802 this 

 flock had increased to 249 sheep and lambs. The other establishment of Merinos 

 is at Pcrpignan. 



