On Tunis Mountain Sheep — wool. 241 



change this habit : especially those whose pastures are 

 luxuriant, and fatten the sheep quickly. Flocks, on 

 pastures overstocked, are thinned, by sales of those fat, 

 and of store sheep, for others to feed. Habits, good or 

 bad, are not easily discontinued. If flocks for fine wool, 

 can be made a special J.:jusiness, none can wish more 

 sincerely than I do, for its accomplishment. To pre- 

 serve them, other good breeds should be encouraged.* 

 When this plan is extensively executed, millions of 

 acres, at this time called barrens, will be converted into 

 sheep walks. They now throw up, in cleared spots, 

 white clover in abundance. The difficulty will be 

 winter food, for large flocks; or, what is more unattain- 

 able, early spring succulent fodder, when they most re- 



* In Great Britain, there are fourteen distinct varieties of 

 sheep, some of them as indifferent as any we have. It would 

 be an usei'ul inquiry, if measures for ascertaining and distin- 

 guishing the varieties of sheep in our country, were taken. 

 In all breeds, the wool should be an object of great attention, 

 but it has been too much neglected. Breeds might easily be 

 kept distinct, and not (as they too often are) indiscrimi- 

 nately mixed. The long wool and the short, the fleeces being- 

 applicable to different fabrics and uses, might, with no diffi- 

 culty and a little care, be always kept from mixture ; and 

 each brought to its appropriate perfection. If it be thought, 

 as no doubt it will, that I have been prolix and too minute, 

 let others condense their accounts of breeds and qualities of 

 sheep. So that,v/hen every information is gained, a fair compe- 

 tition and emulation may be excited. This will effectually im- 

 prove all breeds, and greatly conduce to the public prosperity. 

 In England, and all countries, particular breeds have the run of 

 the day, get out of fashion, and yield to fortunate competitors. 

 VPL. II. H h 



