

THE SOFT-WOOLLED SHEEP OF WALES. 67 



The wildest race of Sheep in Wales is susceptible of im- 

 provement ; but, to accomplish this to the required degree, 

 a long course of selection, combined with a proper practice 

 with respect to feeding, is required. But this wilder breed 

 presents no characters which can render it expedient to 

 expend time and capital in cultivating it in preference to 

 others already formed. The basis is bad, and the inter- 

 ests of breeders will be served, either by substituting at 

 once a superior breed, or by crossing the native race until 

 one with better properties has been produced. Two races 

 of improved Sheep exist in this country, which might 

 either supplant the existing races o'f the Welsh mountains, 

 or be employed for crossing until a new class of properties 

 were produced. These are the South Down and the Cheviot 

 breeds. The South Down is rather suited to a dry than a 

 moist climate, and its natural habitat is not similar to the 

 humid soils of Wales. It is conceived, therefore, that the 

 Cheviot breed, though inferior as a breed to the South Down, 

 presents a combination of properties which may adapt it 

 better to this part of the country. It is, in all useful pro- 

 perties, vastly superior to the indigenous race, and has al- 

 ready been acclimated in countries more elevated and inhos- 

 pitable than the highest ranges of the mountains of Wales. 



IV. THE SOFT-WOOLLED SHEEP OF WALES. 



The most characteristic race of Sheep in Wales is that 

 which has been termed the Soft-woolled breed. It may re- 

 ceive this name on account of the quality of its wool, which, 

 though mixed with hairs, is much less so than that of the 

 wilder breeds referred to, and has a softness and tenuity of 

 filament which peculiarly fit it for the making of flannels, 

 one of the staple native manufactures of the Principality. It 

 may, however, be more appropriately termed the White-nosed 



