Farming of Cormoall. 
449 
Mr. CresswcU's flock in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Mr. Peters's sys- 
tem of breeding appears to have been a continual changing of 
blood, for either in 1816 or 1818 he again crossed his flock with 
the Gloucester variety, the effect of which was far from being 
satisfactory to the farmers, or probably to himself, for we find, 
from the documents furnished us, that in the course of three or 
four years afterwards he again introduced the improved Leicesters 
from Mr. Champion's flock, of Nottingham. This last cross 
proved to be the most successful one he ever made. PVom this 
time, down to the period of his sale in 1841, he twice introduced 
fresh blood from the Dishley stock, and once from the Gloucester 
variety, without any improvement. When we consider that during 
this time Mr. Peters was the only person who held public 
sales for the letting and selling of rams in the county, we may 
safely conclude that the Cornish flock at the present time pos- 
sesses more or less of the Cotswpld blood. Other farmers have 
introduced the pure Leicester blood within the last ten years 
from Devonshire, and from both Mr. Buckley's and Mr. Bur- 
gess's flocks, with considerable success. Among these we should 
mention Mr. George Bullmore of Newlyn, Mr. Doble of Pro- 
bus, and Mr. Hodge of Perranzabuloe — the last two individuals 
being the principal stock breeders in the county- 
74. The saving in the cost of production through the early 
maturity, improvement of fleece, and of form generally, is more 
than 50 per cent. The old breed were kept from two years to 
two years and a half before sold, and the best of them did not 
exceed from 10 lbs. to 12 lbs, per quarter. They are now sold 
at one year and one year and a half old, averaging from 18 to 
24 lbs. per quarter. We have a few flocks of South Downs 
kept on some gentlemen's parks ; and between the rivers Fowey 
and Tamar there is a breed found with tawny faces and legs — 
evidently of the South Hams variety ; but these last have under- 
gone great improvement by crossing with the Leicester blood, as 
they will fatten at one year and a quarter old to 20 lbs. per 
Cjuarter. The Cornish farmers pay great attention to the wool, 
preferring breeding from the heaviest fleece, which affords a very 
desirable protection to their sheep on our exposed districts. The 
average weight of fleece is fi'om 7\ to 9 lbs.* To encourage a 
good fleece, and of sound staple, sheep require to be kept well in 
* The wool in Cornwall is never washed on the sheep's back previous 
to clipping, but invariably sold in the yolk. This makes a difference in 
the price of wool, where washing is practised, of 25 per cent., the adding 
of which to the Cornish prices will make the rateable value of the washed 
wools of other counties. 
We have been furnished with a list of prices of Cornish wool between 
the years 1830 and 1844 — the average is 9|<f. per lb. during that time. 
