278 farmers' and mechanics' journal. 



long, but the bones fine. The average weight per quarter of a 

 tolerably fat ram, is about seventeen pounds, and that of ewes, 

 about eleven pounds." 



The shape of this breed is not considered very perfect by pro- 

 fessed breeders and judges. " The throatiness, or pendulous skin, 

 beneath the throat, which is usually accompanied with a sinking or 

 hollow in the neck, presents an offensive appearance, though it is 

 much esteemed in Spain, as denoting both a tendency to fine wool 

 and a heavy fleece. Yet the Spanish sheep are level on the back 

 and behind the shoulders, and there is no reason to conclude that 

 deformity in shape, is necessary to the production of fine wool. 



The fleece of the Merino sheep, weighs, upon an average, from 

 three to five pounds ; in color, it is unlike that of any other breed ; 

 there is upon the surface of the best Spanish or Merino and Saxo- 

 ny fleeces, a dark brown tinge, approaching almost to a black, 

 which is formed by dust adhering to the greasy properties of its 

 pile ; and the contrast between this tinge and the rich white color 

 below, as well as that rosy hue of the skin, which denotes high 

 proof, at first sight excites much surprise. 



The harder the fleece is, the more it resists any external pres- 

 sure of the hand, the more close and fine will be the wool : here 

 and there indeed, a fine pile may be found in an open fleece ; but 

 this occurs rarely." — Loudon, 



2. The South Dozon. This breed of sheep take their name from 

 the extensive downs, or commons, in the counties of Sussex, Kent, 

 &c. England. Very few of them have as yet been introduced into 

 New-England ; indeed, we know of but one importation, viz : that 

 of Messrs. A. & A. Lawrence, of Boston, in the autumn of 1825. 

 In the Middle and Southern States they are coming more into no- 

 tice. They were first introduced into the United States (if we 

 mistake not) by that enterprising and energetic agriculturist, John 

 Hare Powel, Esq., of Powelton, near Philadelphia, who thinks 

 very highly of tiicm, and of whom they could undoubtedly be ob- 

 tained in great purity. Their specific characters are, — faces and 

 legs uniformly grey ; bones fine or small ; neck long and slim ; ra- 

 ther low before ; shoulder high ; somewhat light in the fore quar- 

 ter ; sides broad ; loin tolerably good ; thigh full ; and twist good ; 

 wool very fine and short, (the staple being from two to three inches 

 in length,) weighing, on an average, two pounds and a half to a 

 fleece, when killed at two years old. Flesh fine grained and of 



