THE ROMNEY MARSH BREED. 179 



stock of the country ; and, in the preference which they long 

 gave to the coarse sheep of Romney Marsh, their opinions 

 exercised a peculiarly injurious influence on the breeding of 

 Sheep in this part of England. The opinion frequently ex- 

 pressed, that the new breed is less productive of lambs than 

 the old, does not seem to be well founded. Generally, in- 

 deed, all the coarser varieties of sheep are better nurses, and 

 more prolific, than the more highly improved, under similar 

 treatment. But it does not appear that the Romney Marsh 

 Sheep were ever peculiarly noted for producing numerous 

 lambs, or for being good nurses. No sheep in this country 

 had so much difficulty in parturition, or were so apt to desert 

 their offspring, as the Romney Marsh ewes. With respect 

 to the averment, that the old breed was better suited than 

 the new to withstand the stormy climate of the marsh, and 

 preserve itself from the open ditches with which the country 

 is intersected, it is to be observed, that some truth, mixed 

 with more of error, exists in the statement. The New Lei- 

 cester Breed is reared with facility in situations greatly more 

 cold and exposed than the Romney Marsh, which possesses 

 as good a climate, with respect to temperature, as exists in 

 England. That the Romney Marsh Breed is better calcu- 

 lated to preserve itself from the accidents resulting from the 

 open ditches of the country than a breed naturalized in a dif- 

 ferent situation, may be admitted ; but the danger itself ought 

 to be provided against by suitable enclosing, and not used as 

 an argument against the cultivation of a superior breed. Fur- 

 ther, the fact, if it shall be admitted, that the one breed is bet- 

 ter fitted than the other to subsist without artificial food and 

 shelter, is no argument against the reception of the superior 

 breed, but a strong one in favour of a better system of ma- 

 nagement. There cannot be a doubt that the Sheep of the 

 Romney Marsh have been signally benefited by the blood of 

 the New Leicester race. The Romney Marsh breeders may 

 now please themselves by believing that their own breed is 

 superior to the imported one ; and no harm will result from 



