Pastoral Husbandry. 
711 = 445 
not superior, to any of our own growth. As wool, when 
pssed for exportation, is a very portable article in proportion 
its value, the importation may be expected to increase as our 
lonies are further developed ; it is therefore improbable that 
e price of wool will rule very high in the future. 
The demand for mutton of the best quality is, on the contrary, 
.ely to be at least as great in the future as in the past, and 
the production of long wool and of fine quality of mutton 
in some degree, antagonistic, and rarely combined in the 
: ne animal, it appears likely that in the future the production 
( mutton will receive the larger amount of attention. 
Some notice of the qualities of some of the principal breeds The Lincoln 
( sheep will here not be out of place. The Lincoln takes the ^'^"^ ^^^^P- 
iit place amongst the long-woolled breeds, on account both of 
t' weight of its carcass and of the quality of its fleece. Almost 
t' whole of the sheep in its native county are of this breed, 
r 1 many flocks are kept in adjoining counties. A great 
r mber of fine sheep in the wool, one year old, are annually sold 
i April at Lincoln Fair, and other fairs in the county. On 
t' shallow soils of the large district, formerly uncultivated, 
cnmonly called Lincoln Heath, these sheep seem to thrive 
anirably upon the somewhat scanty fare yielded by the clovers 
ail stubbles during the summer and autumn. 
jreat attention has been paid to the cultivation of the 
Iicoln breed, and whilst the weight and quality of the wool 
h e been improved, size, weight of flesh, and aptitude to fatten 
Ire also been increased. Large prices are paid for rams at 
t auctions held yearly ; thus, last year, Mr. Dudding's 70 rams 
a raged 21/. each, one making 100/. ; Mr. Casswell's 50 rams 
a raged 25/. each. 
The Cotswold sheep are common on their native soil, the The Cotswolds. 
C swold Hills and the neighbouring counties. They are also 
k t in Norfolk. They have large handsome frames, and a heavy 
fl ce of coarse wool ; they attain a great weight of mutton, 
S( lewhat coarse grained, with a large proportion of fat. They 
a) well adapted for fattening at an early age, but handle soft 
ai flabby. Mr. R. Game's 50 rams last year made an average 
p;:e of 20/. 5s., and many other breeders made fair average 
pi es. 
he Leicester breed of sheep is of ancient date, and was in The Leicesters 
' ■ high repute nearly 100 years ago, great prices having then 
1 given for the purchase and hire of rams. The Leicester 
sb!p is of moderate size, with neat frame, a good fleece of wool, 
Vf ' firm mutton, and great aptitude to fatten. 
'he mutton has, however, often too great a proportion of fat, 
" is therefore not so saleable as that of some other breeds. 
