SHEEP. 



thofe of imaller and lefs coarfe heads, a greater depth of 

 carcalJe, and fhorter and lefs coarfe legs, better fymmetry 

 or form of feveral different parts, as well as of the whole 

 animal. 



Th;re can, therefore, be no doubt but that this breed 

 has been greatly benefited by the introduflion of the new 

 Leicefter fort, and it is probable that it has not depended 

 fo much upon feleAion as the ufe of this new variety, as 

 though the cry in the market is for the marfh kind, that 

 form is carefully improved, and by no means preferved, al- 

 though lomcthing of it may ftill exill. Something of the 

 South Down fort is likewife difcernible in this breed, it is 

 faid. 



This breed of flieep is thought to be highly valuable for 

 cold expofed fituations, as being eafily bred, and itanding in 

 need of no artificial food in the moft fevere winters, except a 

 little hay ; they are very hardy for their fize, have now many 

 improved qualities, and may probably be made the mofl 

 profitable of any for rich paftures, as affording the largell 

 proportion of meat at the leall expence. In wethers, the 

 general average is now from ten to twelve (lone weight each ; 

 and in ewes, when fat, from nine to eleven. 



Dartmoor, Dcvunjh'ire, Bampton and Nott Breed or Variety. 

 — This is a breed or fort of fheep, which is chiefly dif- 

 tinguiflied by having no horns ; white faces and legs, thick 

 necks, backs narrow, and back-bones high ; fides good ; 

 legs filort, and bones large : and probably without any ma- 

 terial objeftion, being a variety of the common hornlefs 

 fort. According to Mr. CuUey, the weight of ewes on the 

 average about 2olbs. a quarter : in wethers, at two years 

 and a half old, 3olbs. Length of wool much the fame as in 

 the Romney-Mar(h breed. It is a breed found to be preva- 

 lent in the diftricls from which it has derived its name. And 

 it is fuppofed to have received confiderable improvement by 

 being crofied with the new Leicefter or Dilhley improved 

 fort within thefe few late years. 



Befides the foreft from which it takes its name, this breed 

 is met with in fome other parts of the county. The Dart- 

 moor wethers at five years old will average about l61bs./£r 

 quarter, and ]jroduce from four pounds and a half to fix 

 'lounds and a half of unwafhcd wool to the fleece. This 

 ijreed of flieep, though they do not feed fo quickly, when 

 put to good keep, as the new Leicefter fort, yet, when 

 fat, they conftantly prove the very beft mutton, and never 

 fail to command a fuperior price. They alfo ftand the 

 climate in a favourable manner, and the ewes are good 

 nurfes. 



The old Devonftiire dun-faced nott fheep were formerly 

 held in high eilimation, as a native breed of fome parts of 

 this county. It is, however, a crooked-backed, flat-fidcd, 



coarfely boned and wooUed animal, but which has been 

 much improved by croiling with the new Leicefter fort ; its 

 principal defefls are by thefe means removed, and a greater 

 difpofition to fatten at an earlier period given ; while at the 

 fame time, however, the fleece, as well as the weight of the 

 carcafe, has been leflened, the former from ten to eight 

 pounds of unwaflied wool the fleece, and the latter from 

 twenty-two to nineteen pounds the quarter. In order to 

 recompenfe which, the animal comes to market four montlis 

 earlier ; the wethers at two years old, with advantage ; that 

 is, after being twice fliorn as flieep, and once as lambs, equals 

 the average already ftated. This ifl"ue once more crofied 

 with the new Leicefters, will arrive, it is faid, ftill earlier 

 to the fame perfeftion. 



In the Bampton nott breed, the wethers will, at twenty 

 months old, weigh twenty-two pounds the quarter, and 

 ftiear fix pounds and a half of wool to the fleece ; alfo 

 the fame flieep, well wintered, and kept on for another 

 twelvemonth, will average twenty-three pounds the quarter, 

 and yield eight pounds of unwaflied wool to the fleece. The 

 price of the wool at prefent is about \s. the pound. 



The firft crofs of this breed with the new Leicefter is fad 

 growing into great efteem in this diftrift, in confequence 

 of its improving the form, and bringing the animal three 

 months fooner to market ; but though fo far ufeful and de- 

 firable, any more of that blood is thought difadvantageous, 

 as rendering them too tender while young, and to require too 

 much care and nurfing. 



The Bampton nott crofied with the new Leicefter is alfo 

 a fort much approved of in feveral parts of the county, efpe- 

 cially when carried to the fourth degree, or four parts of the 

 Leicefter to one of the native nott. This crofs, it is faid, 

 comes earlier to market, and at two years old will generally 

 average twenty pounds the quarter, and eight pounds of 

 yoak wool to the fleece, which is worth about \od. the 

 pound. And the old Leicefter crofs upon the Bampton 

 makes a large and handfome animal, which feeds kindly and 

 tallows well within. The wethers of two years old will 

 average, with advantage, thirty pounds the quarter, and 

 (hear ten pounds of yoak wool to the fleece. It is much 

 valued in fome places. But the new Leicefter crofs upon 

 the fame flieep, will in fome fituations bring forward wethers 

 at twenty months old, weighing twenty-two pounds the quar- 

 ter, with a fliear of eight pounds of yoak wool to the fleece, 

 both of which are at this time worth \od. the pound, weigh- 

 ing, according to the cuitom of unwalhed wool, twenty-one 

 pounds for every fcore. This fort is highly valued by fome 

 in different parts of this county. The lialf Bampton crofs 

 is more hardy than the new Leicefter fort, and fuits fome 

 places better. 



3 G 2 



Tablk 



