4j6 History of the Author' ^ 



Upon the whole, though the Merino-Ryeland breed of sheep is not quite so 

 hardy as some others, yet, under that attention which it well repays, it is full aj 

 exempt from disease as any of our indigenous breeds. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Obstacles to the Extension of this Breed. IVanl of a ready sale for the Wool, 

 at its acknoivledged Value in the Manufacture. Various Objections stated. 

 Reasons for the Extension of the Breed. Ignorance of the JVool-stapler as to 

 iVool in the full Yolk. Proposition to extend the Sale, by reducing it to the 

 Spanish State, and by other Means. 



1 HE account which I have given of the different qualities of this race of sheep. 

 seems sufficiently flattering to lead to a ready and wide extension. In this respect, 

 however, many difficulties and objections occur, which I will now consider. 



I am sorry to observe that the chief obstacle arises from the backwardness of 

 the manufacturer to give the proper price for the wool ; an evil which the late noble 

 President long ago saw, and justly deplored; and which, to this day, is felt, not 

 only by the common growers of such wool, but in the Royal flock itself. It is 

 acknowledged that the wool of this flock is better than that of the Negrette pile in 

 Spain ; yet the Refina, in the year 1802, sold only for 5s. gd. per lb. clean scoured> 

 while no manufacturer would, at that time, have hesitated to give 7s. 3d. per lb. 

 for Negrette in the same state. 



In order to justify this objection, various shallow pretexts are advanced. One 

 person (the representative of a large class of mankind judging from equal premises) 

 speaking to a friend of mine of my wool, which he had never seen, put his hand on 

 a fleece of South Down wool, and pronounced that it was finer than mine. Ano- 

 ther feels my wool, and gravely declares that it is not broad enough ; that is, in fact, 

 that it is too soft and fine. Should I satify this gentleman by meliorating it with 

 a cross of the broader Leicester ? A third person minutely examines the scoured 

 ■wool of the whole fleece of one of my rams, by the side of scoured specimens of the 

 most noted Spanish piles; and though officially appointed to give a comparative 

 judgment as to their merits, so far as it could be given from such an examination, 

 absolutely refuses to advance any opinion at all, and quashes the very inquiry for 



