1805.] Merino& Leicester Sheep, 32

As my knowledge of the Merino Sheep'is derived almost entirely trom report, 1 possibly may not be perfectly correct; eitber 10 the price ot Spanish unwashed. wool, or in tbe weight oft the fleece or carcase. If not,[ will thank Some cf your Inore experienced correspondents to correct me. As[ CON Ceive every Sheep to eat a quantity of food, in proportion ta its weight of bone, and as the weight of bone in the Leicester appears from Pastoiuus's Statement be anly ope twentieth part ot its carcase, whilst that ofthe Merino isa thirteenth; probabls the difference in the consumption ol food is very triflivg.

1f the above. Statement be correct, the Syperiority of the Merino's is very great; being twenty-Lwo Shillings in the two years.

There is a complaint against the Leicesters in this county, which I am rather SurpriSed at not Seeing noticed by Mr.;B. (viz) their being much less prolific than Short wooled Sheep, and on expressing my Surprise to a celebrated breeder of Sheep in this county, that alter having been at 50 great an expence in improving his Leicesters, he should discontinue the breed; bis answer was, I am convinced the Leicester Sheep will gain a much greater quantity of mutton on a given quantity of tood, than any others, but from one hundred Leicester ewes[ Cannot, from the number that are barren, rear more than ninety lambs,'whilst from the Same number of Southdowns, 1 can rear one hundred and twenty, and. 1 find that this dis- Proportion, with the Superior value of Southdown fleece, much more than compensates for the greater quantity of mutton produced by the Leicesters,

Notwithstanding the present Superiority of Short wooled Sheep, I would not advise any one in posSesSion of* good Leicesters, on land that is adapted to them, to change. In changing his Stock, a man must be either at a very considerable expence, or he will be many years in getting his Stock good. The expence, if he bought Merinos at the rate they are now Selling, would be enormous; and when we have a peace, most probably the great disparity in the pricez of long and Short wool will be at an end. The Leicesters have many qualities to recommend tbem. From their Singular docility they may be kept in Small inclosures, where it would be im- Ppossible to keep any other Sheep. If any. one Should be Suspected to be discased, there is very little loss in killing it, being always fat enough for zale. And though there may be 2 greater proportion of barren. ewes, yet in that case, from their excessive fatness, they may.be gaid to carry their lambs on their backs. I certainly would not recommend them 98 poor light Soils. There Short wooled active Sheep would € ioaund mach more profitable,