and Extension oftbt Merino Breed of Sheep, 431 



ewe was 11 guineas, and the lowest 6 guineas. In the year 1805, the sheep being 

 younger, and in every respect better, 17 rams were sold for^TgyS, os. 6d. and 21 

 ewes for £50j. 14s. The average price of the rams was, therefore, £si. and that 

 of the ewes, £"24. 3^. 6d. The highest price of a ram was 64 guineas, and the 

 lowest 2t-f guineas. The highest price of an ewe was 35 guineas, and the lowest 

 1O7 guineas. From the greatness of these prices, and more especially their rise at 

 the last auction, some judgment may be formed of the higli and increasing estima- 

 tion in which the Merino breed of sheep begins to be held in this country. 



Of the progress of the Royal Merino flock, both as to wool and carcase, ample 

 information may be obtained from the accurate reports, up to August 1803, by Sir 

 Joseph Banks, under whose care this flock is placed, and through whose judicious 

 management, the form has been considerably improved, and the fleece rendered 

 finer than the N. E. or Ncgrette pile, which is the wool of the parent flock now 

 existing in Spain. 



The public is well acquainted with the judgment and zealous activity in all 

 agricultural pursuits which have long characterized Lord Somcrville. That noble- 

 man has imported from Spain a large number of Merino rams and ewes, which he 

 has treated so successfully that, while the cloth from his wool is far superior to the 

 greater part of that which has been manufactured from any Spanish, the form of the 

 carcases is so ameliorated as to be fast approaching to that of the best Ryelands or 

 South Downs. Lord Somerville has sold part of his flock, and, as appears from 

 the Report of his Farm, in the Tenth Volume of the Bath Society's Papers, let 

 rams in the year 1803, to the amount of £"524. 10s. 



From these two Merino flocks have been formed that of Lord Porchester; of 

 which I am unable to «peak from my own knowledge; and that of Mr. Toilet, 

 who has published an account of it in the Annals of Agriculture. His pure 

 Merinos, in 1804, consisted of 16 rams, 32 ewes, and 8 shearling ewes; in all 56. 

 The rams yielded of wool, in the yolk, 1301b. or 81b. 2 oz. each; the ewes, 

 i9t-|lb. or 51b. 150Z. each; and the shearlings, 34-^- lb. or 4 lb. 57 oz. each; 

 exclusively of the lamb's fleece. The total weight was 356^ lb. and the average 

 61b. 6 oz. each fleece. The 356^ lb. were reduced, by washing to the Spanish 

 state, to 1841b.; and if, when purified by clean scouring, this wool, like the best 

 Spanish, suffered a farther v/aste of 3-|- lb. per score, the total reduction would be 

 to 152 lb. or to somewhat less than -5- of the original weight. It sold for 20J. per 



