Mer'tHO.Ryeland Breed of Sheep. 435 



This did not, however, in any degree abate my obligation to his noble possessor, 

 whom I may justly consider as the original author of any success which has at- 

 tended my subsequent endeavours. 



In the year 1792, the flock of Negrctte sheep arrived from Spain. No sooner 

 did this opportunity oRcr, than the King, conformably to the long habits of his 

 mind, availed himself of it to promote the v;elfare of his people. Among the many 

 individuals, or public bodies, to whom he graciously presented rams of this race, 

 were the late Marquis of Bath, the Earl of Ailesbury, and the Bath and West of 

 England Agricultural Society. From one or other of these rams I had seven ewe 

 Iambs in the year 1794. That season passed, as far as I recollect, without my 

 having any opportunity of procuring the service of any Merino; but, in 1795, I 

 was able to cross 17 ewes with the rams above-mentioned; and, the following year, 

 the Marquis of Bath permitted me to send some ewes to his Merino ram. 



In the year 1797, I first obtained possession of a ram of this breed ; and from 

 that period have always been able to employ males of the pure blood, whenever, for 

 improvement or experiment, I have wanted them. 



In this mode I have gone on gradually increasing, and, I trust, improving 

 my flock, till last autumn it consisted of the following fine-wooUed sheep and 

 lambs : — 



Ewes of all ages, _— 184 



Rams, 46 



Cut rams, ■ 22 



Wethers, 27 



Lambs, — — — — 103 



382 

 Besides which, I had, either by accident or design, of coarser sheep, 



Ewes, . 88 



Wethers, ■ 7 



95 



making a total of 477 sheep and lambs. 



I have mentioned that it was the wool of the Merino race, which first excited 

 my attention. General opinion had long decided, that it was impracticable to raise 

 in this country wool equal to that of Spain. To me, however, it appeared that 



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