154 THE SHEEP. 



them the most, and that the heavier fleeces of the Leicester, 

 the Cotswold, and the Old Lincoln Sheep, would yield a larger 

 profit to the wool-grower than even the higher priced Merino. 

 But the two classes of Sheep should be kept entirely distinct. 

 The Merino breed should be selected and cultivated with all 

 the care which the state of the country will allow. Merinos 

 of the pure race may be obtained in England ; but in num- 

 bers too small to supply any considerable demand. They 

 would be more conveniently procured from Saxony, proper 

 precautions being employed in making the selection from 

 flocks of established reputation. The best period for exa- 

 mining the flocks is the month of January, or even February. 

 The cheapest mode of getting an improved stock is to pur- 

 chase the refuse or cast ewes ; but the proper mode to insure 

 the obtaining of them of the best sorts is to make a selection 

 out of the good flocks of the country. Unless, however, the 

 purchaser is a very good judge of the quality of the wool, he 

 will require an assistant in the country, who, for a fixed 

 amount per head, will make the selection ; and it will be 

 proper for those who are to make considerable purchases to 

 send a trusty person to the country. The price for refuse 

 ewes is from four to eight dollars, at 3s. per dollar ; of se- 

 lected ewes, from ten to twenty dollars, and of rams, from 

 k L.3 to L.20. Some remarkably fine rams even bring prices 

 so high as from L.50 to L.200 ; but this great expense can 

 never be required, except in the case of individuals who al- 

 ready possess highly improved flocks, which they are desirous 

 of bringing to the greatest degree of perfection. In the case 

 of Australian settlers, it would be well for a number to com- 

 bine and purchase a considerable number at once, as from 

 1000 to 2000 ewes, with a corresponding number of rams. 

 The best mode of proceeding would be, to collect the Sheep 

 at Biesa on the Elbe, and ship them to Hamburg, a separate 

 boat being hired for the purpose. Shipments might also be 

 made from Dresden. The precautions to be used in making 

 these purchases are, to deal only with persons of known cha- 



