178 THE SHEEP. 



of animals from the Kentish Sheep of the beginning of the 

 present century. 



The arguments used against the introduction of the more 

 cultivated breed were similar to those employed by the 

 breeders of the eastern marshes. It was argued, that the 

 decrease of size and deterioration of the fleece, were not 

 compensated by the earlier maturity, and greater tendency 

 to fatten, of the imported breed ; that the latter were less 

 saleable to the butchers, and that the ewes were less pro- 

 lific, and inferior as nurses. It was contended, besides, that 

 the new breed and its descendants were less suited than the 

 former to the open marshes on which they were to be reared 

 without shelter or artificial food ; and that they were apt to 

 be driven into the ditches by the strong gales which at cer- 

 tain seasons swept over the marsh. A satisfactory answer 

 can be given to the greater part of these objections. The 

 decrease of weight was, to a certain extent, more apparent 

 than real, arising from a diminution in the size of bone and 

 the coarser parts ; and there was always a more than cor- 

 responding gain, by the breeders being enabled to bring 

 their animals to market at an earlier period. The deprecia- 

 tion in the weight and quality of the wool was little in the 

 case of this breed ; the wool of the Romney Marsh Sheep 

 never having been in the first class, with respect either to 

 quality or productiveness. That the new breed was less ac- 

 ceptable to the butchers is true ; but this was because the 

 fat was more deposited on the external parts, and because 

 the offal was less. The interest of the butcher, it is to be 

 observed, corresponds only in certain points with that of the 

 breeder. The butcher prefers the animals that yield him 

 most profit from the parts sold in retail ; but he has no con- 

 cern with the quantity of food consumed by them, with the 

 period required for bringing them to maturity, or with the 

 details of management, which yield a profit to the owner. 

 The butchers, as a class, have rarely been the advocates of 

 those changes which have added so great a value ;to the live- 



