58 APPENDIX, No. IV. 



and to dlminifli the flrcngth of this delicate creature* 

 Thus weakened by the winter rains, it is ill prepared to 

 encounter the hardftiips that the fprlng rains produce 

 when the wool, at its greatefi length, forms a burden when 

 wet, by which the animal is fo reduced, as the lambing 

 feafon approaches, as to be often no longer able to fub- 

 fift. under it, and dies. 



The cafe is very difFivent upon the weft coaft. The 

 winter feafon being there generally dry, the fleece fervcs 

 to keep the animal warm, without overloading it, inftead 

 ©f chilling and oppreffing it : the earth, too, being firm to 

 the tread, and the herbage dry, the fheep then continue 

 active and hearty : and, as fevere rains are rare in the 

 fpring, they are at that trying feafon in much better 

 health than the others can expeft to enjoy. V/hen fum- 

 iner comes on, the fleece is removed. The light fliowevs 

 therefore cannot then prove oppreflive by the weight" 

 cf the fleece, on account of its fliortnefs nor chilling to 

 the animal, becaufe of the genial warmth of the feafon. 

 The fun and the winds then alfo quickly dry thein. Thefe 

 fummer fhowers, therefore, though frequent, do not in 

 the lealt incommode the flreep itielf; and on the dry 

 hilly paflures, the rains only ferve to keep up a conftant 

 fupply of frefli herbage, which 'other wife would have been 

 much lefs abimdant. From thefe confiderations, it plain- 

 ly appears that the climate on the wtffc is much more 

 favourable for breeding fheep than tliat on the eall coaft 

 of Scotland. Indeed experience proves, fmce it has been 

 tried, that they thrive better there than elfewhere. 



When ail thefe circumfLnnces are duly adverted to, it 

 "will, I trull, appear undeniable, i/?, That the climate of 

 Britain, efpecially the wea coafts of Scotland, is pecu- 

 liarly favourable for the rearing of fine wool : id, That 

 Britain once did poflefs a breed of fheep that carried wool 

 isiadoubtedly finer than any other Vv'col produced at that 



time 



