1804.] Cr 98..3

ON THE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES OF THE GROWTH OPF COARSE AND FINE WOOL, AND ON THE PRODVCE OF SHEEP, BOTH IN RESPECT TO THE CARCASE AND WOOL, ON THE FARM OF LORD SOMERVILLE.«

To the Editor of the Agricultural Magazine

SIR rv Z nN HILST your correspondent, 4 Novice, No. 60;:p- 1%

indulges himself in Jaughter, excited under an idea of providing high rents in Yorksfare, by the pasture of Spanish Sheep. Pastorius, ibid. p. 9, Seems to be deeply affected by an opposite Senzation; for he mourns in the distant contem- plation that his beloved animals of the coarse long-woolled tribe may probably be exterminated, and Superseded by a new race, producing wool: of the finest texture: and cer- tainly it will not be denied, that it would be a Serious Subject of cowplaint, were we reduced to the necessity of ſabricating our mops with fine clothing wool, 1 wish it were In my power to eradicate altogether the grief of this 30orrow- ful Swain. In the mean time let it be part of his counSolatiuvn, that the mops 50 fabricated might be brought into the market, at Somewhat about one-half of the present cost! for the new race not only produces double the weight of coat, or an equal Surface, by comparison with the long-woolled tribe; but be- ing 80 defended, cap-a-pie, is better prepared to brave and resist the inclemencies ot a cold tempestuous climate, and this reasohing we also know to be confirmed by experience.

And here 1 beg leave to Submit it as a probable conjec- ture, hereaſter more fully 10 be appreciated, that the temper- ature of Britain, particularly to the race of fine-woolled Spanish Sheep,(for in Spain there are Coarse-woolled breeds) is more congenial than Spain itseltf.

Itis well known that nothing is more oppressive to the Sheep than any excess of heat, as well as the reliet hey are found to experience when depyrived of their fleeces, and the rapid progress in condition which they subsequentl|y manitest. May not one of ihe primary objects in removing the Spa- nish flocks to be pastured on the Summits of their moun= tains in the zummer season, have been to relieve them from the oppressive beats of their plains? It is also well ascer- taibed, that even in Sweden, flocks descending trom Sheep, imported from Spain about a century ago, continue to'pre- Serve their original purity in every repect. But we would not resorl to conjecture, or to foreign InStanCes« In our own Country all things rise in proof.

It appears from the last report of the state of his Majesty"s Pock ot fine-woolled Spanisb Sheep,“that in the opin1ou of competent judges, the flock has been progressively upproving