1805.] On Leicester and-Merino Sheep; 384

Juctance that I have been drawn into this Species of com- Parison in reference to the merits oft Leicester and Merino Sheep, and after all that can be further Said, Leicester Sheep are likely in peace to retain their tation with Pastorius and others, 50 long as the slow operation of experience Shall warrant; and the operation ot experience must be doubly Slow, in application to those districts, wherein by reason of an excessive proportion of fat, the price of mutton is 20 or 30 pound beyond the general medium, as stated by Pastorius in your last number; at the Same time, I presume, it must be Known to Pastorius, that in other districts any ex- cesSive proportion of fat is conzidered to be an objection, and consequently that Such mutton will not there produce the highest market price--this is most truly the case in every market of which I have any knowledge. Besides, every ex- ceszive degree of fatness is considered by many intelligent Persons to be Somewhat in the nature of discase. The re- lative degree of fatness then Seems to be a partial considera- tion of narrow limits. However, 1 would beg leave to cor- rect Pastorius a little in his assumption that Merino Sheep, require four or five years to reach a marketable degree of fatness. 1 have known them often enough at less than two years old, much fatter than would have been thought Suitable für the general demand of markets in this quarter; and I am persuaded, that as Sheep designed for Slaughter, to keep Merinos on tv a later period than wo years would be con- giderably unprofitable to the breeder. Pastorius Seems to have departed, in Some measure, from his accustomed can- dour, in thus hazarding an asSumption, unsupported as it is, and ever must be, by the slightest Shade of testimony.

On the subject of beauty, or Symmetry of frame, 1 casually met this moment, the following passage in Young's Annals, vol. 17, page 138, which I beg to transcribe:

<< Nor Should it be forgotten, that Mr. Bakewell urges as. a circumstance characteristic of Aus breed, that they are light, and even 2l/l-looking, wben lean, and Ze contends, that this will be the case generally with those breeds that have the most powerful dispozition to falten."

Almost immediately, on the receipt of your last number, a gentleman took it for perusal, who has not yet returned it, 1 may therefore, be less correct than I would wish to have been in my attention to the leading topics detailed in tbe Jet- ter of Pastorius, inzerted in that number, and 1 fatter my- Self, that this circumstance will be to hun, as Some Sort of apology for any sceming negligence.

Your correspondent proposes an open unlimitted invitation 88 for counsel, 10 be of his cause. Agricola Northumbriensts

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