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1803] On Spanisk Sheep, and their Wool. 5 8313

z practicable, byjudiciousselection and attention, to form entire flocks of a Similar description;. to meet the objection still-fur= ther, it must be obvious, 1 have designedly inserted a price very much below the actual value.

However widely I may happen to differ with your corres- pondent in the manner of reasoning, 1 am happy to find we perfectly unite in the Same general conclusion, as to the im- Pportance and magnitude of producing within ourselves, a Sub- Stitute forthe wool of the Spanish Mountains.

Whilst France remains on the continent a military Colozsus, directing the feeble energies of its Subjugated neighbours, we may be at any time Suddenly forbidden a Supply, either in re- Sentment to this country or to Spain itself, according to var Yrying circumstances; for caprice, rather than any Sound prin- Ciples of economical policy, would Seem to be the predominant feature of that missShapen Republic.

The French, indeed, not insensible to the value of the im- provement, are Sedulously diffusing it through, the country. Lasteyrie, in his Treatise Sur Les Betes a Laine d'Espagne,* p- 229, Says, I| existe dans ce moment en France, plusieurs "Proupeaux dont le' nombre des individus de race pure, peut ttre value a 5000 qui tous Sont, originairement IsSsus des Moutons qui le Gouvernement avoit tire d'Espagne en 1786. La re- publique possede en outre plus de eing cents-Troupeaux de brebis communes allites a des Beliers Espagnols; un grand Nombre des ces animaux Sont 4 la Seconde et meme 4 Ia troisitme Generation, et ne tarderont pas ä atteindre le degre" de finesse et de purete de leurs ascendans paternels. There exist at this moment in France, Several locks, of a pure breed, the individuals ofwhich may be estimated at 5000, all descend- ants from Sheep which the government brought trom Spain in the year 1786. Moreover, the Republic possesses upwards of 300 flocks of common ewes, that have been crossed with Spanish rams; a great number ofthese are of the Second and third ge- neration, and will shortly acquire a degree of purity and fine- nNess equal to their male progenitors.t

The 5ame author describes at large, the Spanish method of washing wool, which 1s always Subsequent to the Shearing; but as 1 imagine the book itselt is Scarce, and not to be found in the English language, Mercator's promized description, I have no doubt, will prove highly acceptable to many of your readers.

LE remain, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, NEHEMITIAH BARTLEY. * Our Readers will notice a review of tais publication in dur magazine for December lalt, Es |+ Meaning in the Fourth Gereratign,

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