MERINO SHEEP. 301 



A great part of the district is unsuited to sheep 

 farming. Along the coast for some considerable 

 distance inland, the great humidity of the sea air, 

 and the rank and luxuriant quality of the grasses, 

 render sheep liable to many diseases, which do not 

 prevail in dryer situations. There is, however, a 

 very large portion of the district so well suited for 

 sheep husbandry, that there is every reason to be- 

 lieve wool will shortly become its staple export. 

 From experiments which have been made by cross- 

 ing the native sheep with pure Merino rams, wool 

 of a most excellent quality has been produced, and 

 the proprietors have been amply repaid for their 

 laudable perseverance. 



The number of fine-woolled sheep in Albany at 

 the end of 1831, is estimated at fifteen thousand 

 two hundred, being an increase of five thousand two 

 hundred since the preceding year. Since that 

 period a very considerable addition has been made, 

 of which it is not possible now to furnish correct 

 details ; but when we consider that attention has only 

 been turned to this pursuit within the last few years, 

 the progress which has been made is highly en- 

 couraging*. The whole of the country between the 

 Konap and Fish Rivers, recently appropriated by 



* Exports of Wool from Port Elizabeth. 



1830 . . . £ 222 Sterling. 



1831 . . . .551 



1832 ... 931 „ 



1833 . . . 2,372 



