218 
SHEEP. 
sheep of the first cross, when two years and a half old, 
will weigh from 36 to 40lb. per quarter; the quantity 
of wool shorn from each sheep, runs from 11 to 14-lb. 
(this weight of a fleece of wool, is, by no means, average 
weight, or at all general, but has occurred in particular 
instances only,) which wool, in 1793, sold at ll. per 
tod, of 08lb. to the tod. This wool has since advanced 
to 30s. per tod, or more; and since then sunk again to 
S6s. or <s7s. per tod.— Obs. 1807. 
Mr. Darke says, We breed some of the best Glou¬ 
cestershire (Cotswold Hill) sheep; we touched on the 
Leicestershire, but found them, though handsome, 
rather too small for our rich pastures; we feed what 
sheep we breed for the London markets. Mr. Old- 
acre —The improvement in stock is rapidly increasing, 
I mean, in the beast and sheep kind. The waste lands 
in the south of the county, are generally stocked with 
Cotswold sheep; those in other parts, with the grey 
faced above named. The Cotswold is a polled, long 
woolled, good sized sheep, similar to the former breed 
of Leicestershire, and has been prevalent on these hills 
time immemorial; hence it is probable and pretty cer¬ 
tain, that the popular idea of the Spanish fine wooded 
sheep, having been derived from hence, is without foun¬ 
dation, no two varieties of the same animal can be 
scarcely more distinct; this breed of sheep is deficient 
in the fore quarter, in which respect they are much im¬ 
proved by crossing with new Leicester rams. The 
best and most valuable sheep stock in the county, is, 
however, that which comes nearest to the new Leices¬ 
ter ; and, that this is the public opinion, is proved by 
their fetching, beyond comparison, the highest prices 
at sales. In the present autumn, a first rate flock was 
sold, though not in this county, close to its borders, the 
property 
