^88 History of the Author's 



we consider that the average weight of my sheep, at the same age, does not exceed 

 half that of the breed in question, and reflect oh the number which I am able to 

 keep per acre on the poor land of my farm, I think no one will doubt, that, at 

 shearing time, which is certainly the most productive in nutritious pasture of any 

 season throughout the whole year, an acre of Romney marsh would readily sup- 

 port from 8 to lO of my breed. If we allow only 8, at 51b. per fleece each, or 2olb. 

 of clean scoured wool, the difference of produce will be 3i-lb. per acre in favour 

 of theMerino-Ryeland breed over the long-wooUed race of Romney Marsh. 



The superiority would, probably, be to the full as great, on the same pasture, 

 over the Cotswold, Lincoln, or New- Leicester breeds. 



Were abundance of the finest wool produced in these islands, there can be little 

 doubt that new fabrics, now absolutely unthought of, would be discovered amongst 

 us. I have already mentioned that the French have found no material loss of 

 weight in wool of the Merino breed suffered to remain 2 and even 3 years on the 

 same animal ; and that I have had a similar result as to the wool of a Merino-Rye- 

 land ram. Such wool would beof inferior value to clothiers; but the ingenuity of Mr. 

 Charles Pictet, and his lady, has applied these materials, by themselves, to the ma- 

 nufacture of shawls, which, according to his own description, as well as that of Mr. 

 Poole, who has seen them, are superior in softness, lightness, and beauty, to any 

 produced in Norwich, or other parts of England. Having enquired of a very 

 ingenious friend, connected with the Norwich trade, as to the practicability of em- 

 ploying my fine long wool in that way, I found that I was anticipated in this appli- 

 cation by Mr. Toilet, whose wool was actually in preparation for such an experiment. 

 Since that time, I learn that a shawl has been finished, but that, from having been 

 woven too thick, it has disappointed the expectations which were formed of it. It is 

 probable, also, that being wool of the 1st cross of the Ryeland with the Merino, the 

 filament was too coarse for any very flattering result. My fleece, beforementioned,' 

 which is 6 inches in length, and of the finest filament, is ready for trial by any 

 manufacturer of shawls, who will apply for it. 



Having thus largely considered the comparative value of the Merino-Ryeland 

 breed of sheep to the farmer, the clothier, and the kingdom, and thus offered the 

 most powerful motives for the extension of this and similar biccds, I must now 

 advert to a very important part of the subject, which is their management. 



