g22 - History of the Author's 



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CHAPTER X. 



Mode of forming a Flocli, which shall have supeijine Wool on a beautiful Car^ 

 case. Choice of breeding Animals. Proof of the superior Agency of the Ewe 

 in determining the Form of the Carcase, and of the Error of choosing large 

 Rams. What is called Blood. A Merino-Rycland Ram, of superior Wool 

 and Carcase, better for Breeding than a pure Merino inferior in those Points. 

 Imprudence of attempting, at present, to mend the Carcase of this Breed, by 

 employing the best Rams of our native Races. Propriety of dividing the Flock 

 into different Classes, according to their Sex and Strength. Project of breeding 

 Sheep with Wool of native Colours. A trial of new Crosses. Conclusion. 



OOMETHING Still remains for me to say on the best mode of forming a flock, 

 which shall combine, in the greatest degree, the essential points of wool and car- 

 case. I do not see how, in the beginning of such an experiment, we can proceed 

 with equal pace towards these two objects. If our view be goodness of form, we 

 need not go for that purpose to Spain, but may much better accomplish it, in a 

 single day, in Sussex, or Leicestershire. The new and great point is to superin- 

 duce the Merino fleece. A sheep with such a fleece, on a carcase equal to our 

 wishes, is hardly now to be found ; and whether in the Merino breed, or its crosses, 

 is not to be made by chance. No method of ultimately attaining this end occurs 

 to me, but that of uniformly choosing for propagation, at first, those rams which 

 have the best fleeces ; after which, when the wool of the whole flock is arrived at 

 the ultimate standard of fineness, we shall doubtless be able to select, among a 

 great variety, animals which are also excellent in their forms. If, as happened to 

 myself at an early period of my labours, the best-wooUed ram chance to have the 

 best carcase, let us thankfully avail ourselves of our good fortune. 



That the female has more influence in the production of form than the male, I 

 have already made probable in speaking of my own flock. I had a strong con- 

 firmation of this last year, when the lambs got by my finest-woolled ram, which was 

 not well-shaped, and smaller than most of the other males, turned out to be larger, 

 and better formed, than the generality of my other stock. The same thing bap- 



