424 Breeds of Sheep best adapted to different Localities. 



they fatten and sell them at from one to two years old, so that there has 

 been a gradual deterioration of wool since 1793." 



With reference to the question respecting the change which is 

 alleged to have taken place in the weight of the carcase of the 

 sheep, in the quality of the fleece and in its usefulness for the pur- 

 poses of manufacture, it was stated by Mr. William Pinkey of 

 Salisbury Plain, 



"that he did not think the quality of wool from our Southdown sheep has 

 deteriorated within the last four or five years. It is generally considered 

 that our wool, since the introduction of Southdown sheep, is of a finer 

 description than that grown upon the Wiltshire sheep, which preceded 

 them, and which were larger : we could not keep so many Wiltshire sheep 

 on the same quantity of land." 



Mr. J. Ell man, jun. — • 



" I think the quality of the wool from our Southdown flock is as good 

 as it was six years ago ; each sheep produces upon the average about 

 three pounds of wool. I keep my sheep better than they were kept 

 before, and I fatten my sheep now, which I did not before, and of course 

 the fleeces are heavier." 



It may be observed that farmers may most conscientiously 

 believe that no deterioration has taken place in the quality of 

 their fleeces for manufacturing purposes, yet still such may be 

 the fact ; the choice and assortment of wools for the finer kinds of 

 goods is a much more delicate matter than is usually imagined. 

 The whole of the evidence given by the agricultural interest went 

 to show that no deterioration of Southdown wool had taken place, 

 the only cases of alleged improvements were adduced by Mr. 

 Thomas Duke of Sussex, who considered the wool of the Duke 

 of Richmond's flock * to be a great deal better than it was, and 

 those of the Duke of Norfolk and of Mr. Huskisson were no 

 worse than they were formerly. 



The evidence of all the woolstaplers and manufacturers was 

 conclusive as to the deterioration : this part of the evidence 

 abounds with so much interesting information, and will be 

 almost totally novel to farmers, induces us to give some copious 

 extracts. 



Mr. William Nottage, fell monger of Bermondsey, stated — 



"that in the year 1800 he was ordered to make a trial of several different 

 sorts of skins as to their produce. Southdown skins slaughtered in 

 London, when at full maturity, produced about 3£ lbs. per skin ; now they 

 are estimated to produce from 4 lbs. to lbs. ; and we find a corre- 

 sponding increase in weight, from the farmer's fleeces, generally in Kent 

 and those parts. Where the weight has increased there is always a less 

 quantity of fine wool and a larger quantity of coarse. Considered there 

 is a great deal less fine wool grown now than there was twenty years back ; 



* If this should ever meetthe eye of the Duke of Richmond, that patriotic nobleman 

 could afford, most probably, some interesting information respecting the cause of this 

 improved quality. 



