1 !ByffWW18DBBEI'BiBtl8[' SKWrgR' M^' ?i 1 TREATISE ON THE DISEASES, &c OF SHEEP. Published by I Riley, New-York, 1810. LiMrk.. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ^ . . V FOUNDED 1836 WASHINGTON, D.C. B19574 3 — / •k. i-y. :> ^ * :>$*-*■ s.O ,r y, ?-K. X -**-* .. .\ -< TREATISE ON THE DISEASES AND MANAGEMENT SHEEP; WITH INTRODUCTORY REM ARKS ON THEIR ANATOMICAL STRUCTURE; AND AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING DOCUMENTS EXHIBITING THE VALUE OF THE MERINO BREED OF SHEEP, AND THEIR PROGRESS IN SCOTLAND. BY SIR GEORGE STEUART MACKENZIE, BART. INDOCTI DISCANT, ET AMENT MEMINISSE PERITI. NEW- YORK-- Printed and Published by I. Riley. 1810, TO DAVID HUMPHREYS, ESQ. Sir, FROM an impression derived from the reputation you have so justly acquired as the patron and promoter of Agriculture and Manufactures in our country, I feel convinced that the present edition of this Treatise, can* not^be dedicated to any other person, with greater pro- priety, than to you. That the same patriotic spirit which animated you in, the glorious cause of American Independence, should prompt you to apply your liberal views and useful talents. in improving the resources of your native country, and encouraging the ingenuity and industry of your fellow*- citizens, was, perhaps, naturally to be expected from one, who, as the selected associate of Washington, would always feel ambitious of imitating his noble examples; and it must surely afford much pleasure to every lover of America, to find that such great success has already favoured a project so worthy of your enterprise. That the present publication may prove serviceable in aiding and promoting your laudable and enlightened plan for covering our pastures with the finest Fleece, and in giving a more extensive currency to that knowledge and skill in the subject, which you are so studious to inculcate, is the sincere wish of Tour obedient servant, . I. RILET. on TO THB NORTHERN ASSOCIATION OF GENTLEMEN AND FARMERS, BREEDERS OF SHEEP. fcENtLEMEN, I cannot dedicate this little volume ftiore pro- perly than to men who, to liberal ideas and enlight- ened views, have joined a noble zeal in pursuing and improving a mode of occupying our mountain pastures, which has prodigiously increased the value of a very extensive tract of country, and made a very large addition to the resources of the empire.1 It may be thought by some, perhaps, that enough has been written on the diseases of sheep ; and that I presume too much in offering any thing on the subject. Although I feel that I stand in need of much indulgence, yet I hope that you will not pass such a sentence on my humble endeavours to be of use to those who are about to enter on the business of sheep-farming. I had some thoughts of executing this work seve- ral years ago, but relinquished them on my not finding any of my medical friends sufficiently disengaged to assist me in the dissections which I thought necessa- ry. In the mean time, on the suggestion of my 1 ari-.eo »iiid worthy friend Dr. Coventry, I took V advantage of my being Convener of the Prize Corny mittee of the Highland Society, and proposed the premium which called forth many valuable essays on the diseases of sheep, which, after having l>een compressed into one memoir, by Dr. Duncan, junior, have been published in the Transactions of the Society. Having perused that memoir, I was fully convinced that a more intimate knowledge of the anatomy of sheep than seemed to be possessed by the authors of the essays, who were not medical prac- titioners, was necessary before any regular system could be formed for preventing and curing the dis- eases to which these useful animals are liable. I, therefore, lately made another attempt to obtain the assistance of a person well qualified for the task; and it gives me great pleasure in informing you that Mr. James Wardrop, whose abilities are too well known to require any eulogium from me, has kind- ly afforded me the assistance I required. To him you are indebted for the first part of this volume. The rest did not require much labour; and as far as my scanty knowledge of medicine and surgery has enabled me, I have endeavoured to execute the task I assigned to myself, with brevity and distinctness. The anatomical observations are, purposely, very general; but it is hoped, sufficient to give a correct idea of the different parts most essential to life. Had the observations been more minute, they might have appeared tedious, and probably have deterred those for whom this volume is chiefly intended, from entering at all on a study which is of more importance to sheep-farmers than is generally allowed. Owing to the very extensive ranges which sheep are permitted to have on large farms, it is difficult to discover a sickly animal, before its disorder has made so much progress as to render every attempt to remove it quite unavailing. « On that account it becomes of very great importance to feed and manage sheep in such a manner as to expose them VI in the least possible degree to any thing which might injure their health. But before we can prevent dis- eases, we must understand their nature. We have • not yet arrived at a sufficient degree of knowledge for enabling us to distinguish the diseases of sheep with accuracy, or to trace them to their origin.— Thousands of these animals have been opened after death; but although we have been told that the liver, the stomach, or other viscera, have been affected, we find the appearance of the parts indiscriminately and arbitrarily referred, to the disease under which the animal was presupposed to have been suffering. Unless there has been a careful observation of the , symptoms by which an animal has betrayed an in- ward complaint, an examination of the appearances which present themselves on dissection is almost use- less. Before we can accurately discover the nature of any disease, we must observe the early, intermediate, and last symptoms, and then search for the cause, by dissection. It will be necessary, too, to kill some animals labouring under the first symptoms, in or- % der that the situation of their cause may be discover- ed. When we are told that the general appearance of the body of a sheep which died of braxy, was that of an inflamed, or mortified mass, we are not conducted to the original seat of the disease. While one person insists that an affection of the liver is the cause of the rot, and another maintains that that malady originates in the lungs, we are not satisfied. Sometimes both the liver and the lungs are found to have been affected, and then we are still farther from the object of our search. By knowing the functions of the different organs, and their connection with various parts of the body, we may sometimes discover that some apparently very trifling circumstance may have been the cause of the most formidable diseases. Whilst those who have the best opportunities of observing sheep, are ignorant of the uses and actions of the different parts vii of their bodies, we cannot expect to make much pro- gress in acquiring knowledge of the causes of the various diseases to which these animals are subject. In the management of horses, we see the beneficial effects which have followed a display of their anato- mical structure ; and almost every groom can tell the causes of any particular symptom of disease. I have humbly endeavoured to pave the way for shepherds to acquire a competent knowledge of the structure, and uses of the most important parts of the animal in whose health they are so much interested; and I trust that others who have more opportunities, and" are more skilful, will follow up the subject, and collect such facts and observations, as will enable us to manage our flocks without having recourse to the as- sistance of vulgar prejudice. My friend Dr. Duncan is right when he prefers good management to doctoring; but to arrive at that, we must be able to understand the causes of what we wish to avoid. The following pages are by no means meant to supply that want of knowledge I have deprecated. They are meant merely to serve as an introduction to a more extensive work, which I do not consider myself qualified to undertake, but which, I hope, will be executed by a person fully competent for such a task ; and to present, in a condensed form, what,. • in my humble opinion, is the best information we have, respecting the diseases which most commonly affect sheep in this country. I have transcribed an entire memoir by M. Pictet, on the foot rot, being confident that it will be very acceptable to those who have Spanish sheep, which are said to be very liable to that disease; and I have freely taken from other sources, whatever I thought ftseful; and I hope that you will agree with me, when I repeat, nee aranea- rum sane textus ideo melior, quia ex se fila gignunt % nee noster vilior, quia ex alienis libamus tit apes* 4 viii In the Appendix, I have collected some of the most interesting documents which exhibit the value of the Merino sheep. Mr. Culley, in the last edi- tion of his useful treatise on live stock, has given a succinct history of that breed, collected from various sources. Being desirous to detail the progress and valuable qualities of the Merinos, to those who may not have had opportunities of attending to them par- ticularly, and who may be induced to take up this volume, I have selected the accounts which have been given from time to time, of his majesty's flock; and have added such information respecting the Me- rinos in Scotland, as cannot fail to be highly interest- ing to those who are active in introducing this valuable breed. Wishing, heartily, that success may attend your in- dividual exertions, and that the objects of the associa- tion may be attained to their full extent, I remain, Gentlemen, Your faithful and obedient servant, G. S. MACKENZIE:, TREATISE ON THE DISEASES, &c. OF*SHEEP. PART. I. B »s> TREATISE oiq THE DISEASES, fcc. OF SHEEP. PART I, Organs of Digestion, ALL animals which chew the cud have more than one stomach* Sheep have four stomachs. In these animals, the food, after being masticated iri the mouth, is carried by the gullet directly down to the first stomach, which lies upon the left side. This is the largest, and is generally called the paunch*. On the inside it has a vast number of blunt-pointed eminences which give it a general roughness, and Extend the surface to several times the size of th.6 paunch itself. The food, after remaining here a Certain time, and being macerated and mixed with the particular fluids which are poured in upon it, is? forced up again into the mouth, and is there further prepared for digestion by chewing. This is what is called chewing the cud, or rumination. After this the food is sent down the gullet into the second sto- mach, the gulletj having an Opening common to it and the first, ends exactly where the two stomach* meet. There is also a smooth gutter, with rising edges, which leads into the second stomach, from thence to the third* and then to the fourth. Thus 12 the animal has the power of directing the food into whichever stomach it pleases. The second stomach, which is the lesser, is called the Bonnet, or King's Hood ; and consists of a great number of cells, or excavations, on the internal surface, resembling a honeycomb. The food is here further macerated, and is then pushed forwards into the third stomach, or Many Plies, so called be- cause the internal surface rises up into a great number of folds, which lie above one another. From the third stomach the food passes into the fourth, called the Reid, or Red, which is the com- mon name it has received from its colour. It re- sembles the human stomach, or that of a dog. It is the fourth stomach of the calf, with the milk curdled in it, that is commonly taken for making rennet. (See plates 1st and 2d, with the explanations.) There are other animals which feed on the same substances with sheep, that have no such mechanism in their digestive organs. Horses, particularly, have only one stomach, in which the grass is macerated, and the nutritious part extracted; the rest is dis- charged very little altered. From this difference in the structure of the stomachs of these creatures, a ruminating animal, or one with four stomachs, will be satisfied with one third less of food than another of equal bulk ; and graziers are well acquainted with this. The reason is, that ruminating animals have many and strong digestive organs; all their food is fully prepared; and almost wholly converted into a nutritious fluid, which is mixed with the blood. But the stomach of a horse is not fit for this ; so that he requires a much greater proportion of food, in order to extract the same quantity of nourishment. The gutst of sheep are of considerable length in proportion to the bulk of the body. It is a general remark that the length and capacity of the guts are different in different animals according to the nature of their food. All animals which live on vegetable 13 food, have not only their small guts considerably longer, but also their great guts more Capacious than such creatures as feed on other animals. The rea- son of this seems to be, that as animal food is not r only much more easily reduced into the nutritious fluid called chyle, but more prone to putrefaction, a long retention of it might be followed by the worst effects ; therefore, such creatures as subsist on animal food, require shorter and less capacious intestinal canals than those which live on vegetables; which being less capable <)f being dissolved and converted into an animal nature, there is a necessity for ani- mals which feed on, them being provided with a long and capacious canal, in order that the food may be considerably retarded in its passage, ■ and be more completely changed. The digestion of the sheep, like that of the cow, and some other animals, is accom- panied by a particular kind of action or process, called rumination ;, the intention of which seems to be, that the food may be sufficiently comminuted, and thus be more extensively acted upon by the stomach. It is not observed that a lamb or calf ruminates while it; feeds on milk alone; but the operation takes place as they begin to eat solid food. As long as the- young animals feed on milk, the food de- scends immediately, along the gutter already men- tioned, into the fourth stomach, without stopping in any of the first three. The rumination does not take place till after "the animal has eaten a considera- ble quantity; after which it lies down, if it can do so conveniently, and then begins to chew the cud ; though the operation will also take place in a standing posture. In the action, a ball is observed to rise from the stomach with great velocity ; this is chewed very accurately, and is then swallowed; another ball is forced up and chewed ; and so on, till the whole of the food which the animal has eaten, has undergone the operation. By means of rumination, the animal extracts a much larger proportion of nourishment 14 from the food, than those animals which do not ru- minate ; and hence sheep and cows are contented with much worse fare, and less of it, than the horse. After the prepared food leaves the stomach, it meets with the bile, which is prepared and secreted .by the liver. In a hollow of the liver is placed the gail bladder. These, with the panCreas, or sweet- bread, connected with the upper part of the alimen- tary canal, and the spleen, are organs all subservi* ent to the process of digestion. As the food con- verted into chyle, passes along the guts, it is absorb- ed by vessels opening into them for that purpose, and carried by them into the blood. The guts have a constant motion, and a muscular power, by which the food is carried through all their windings; and they are kept from entangling by the membrane called the mesentery, or web. After having been deprived of all its nutritious parts, the food becomes reduced into what is called faeces, or excrement, which is ex- pelled by an exertion, occasioned by a natural feeling excited by the matter having been brought to a state rendering it dangerous to be retained. Contents of the Chest, oh Thorax. The cavity of the chest, or thorax, as it is called by anatomists, is separated from the abdomen by a strong muscle, called the diaphragm, which is spread across the inside of the body. The chest contains the heart and large blood-vessels, and the lungs. The structure of the heart in quadrupeds much re- sembles that in man. It is inclosed in a firm bag, or capsule, called the pericardium, from its sur- rounding the heart. The shape of the heart is co- nical, and is placed in a line with the breast bone, or sternum. It is hollow within, and is divided into' four distinct cavities, which either communicate 15 with one another, or which have openings leading from them into the blood-vessels. Two of these cavities, called the right and left auricles, are si- tuated at the base of the heart, and receive the blood from the veins, and propel it into the ventricles. The other two, called the right and left ventricles, receive" the blood from the auricles, and then propel it into the arteries. (Plate 2d, fig. 2d.) The veins collect the blood from the different parts of the body, and before they arrive at the heart, they are formed into two large trunks, (plate 2d, fig. 2d. a. a.) and there terminate in the right auricle. From the right auri- cle the blood is thrown into the right ventricle, and the right ventricle propels it through an artery called the pulmonary artery, which conveys it into the lungs. Through the lungs it is circulated, and undergoes those important changes produced by breathing. Thus changed in its qualities, it is returned by veins, called the pulmonary veins, into the left au-: ricle, (f) and from that into the left ventricle, (g) by which it is forced into the great artery called the aorta, which, by means of branches, distributes the blood over the whole body. This is what is called the circulation of the blood. The rapidity with which it goes on varies much in different animals, and in different states of health of the same animal. There are, therefore, two sets of blood-vessels to be found in quadrupeds, the same as in man, the arteries and veins. The veins are formed at the termination of the arteries, and convey the blood, after it has been distributed over the body, back to the heart. The arteries are distinguished from the veins by their pulsation; for the impulse of the motion of the left ventricle of the heart is commu- nicated to the large trunks of the arteries. But the motion of the blood is gradually retarded, as it passes towards the,extremities of the arteries; and before it enters the minute ramifications of the veins, the 10 pulse is altogether destroyed ; in the same manner as water thrown on a piece of sponge, in an in- terrupted, starting stream, flows through it in an- equally continued course. ' The principal trunks of the arteries are contained in the centre of the body, where they are least ex- 'posed to danger, and derive support and defence from the bones along which they pass. The largest go to the different viscera within the great cavities; the next in size to the muscles and skin; and the smallest to the bones. Another singular provision for the safety of the principal arteries is, that they always pass along a joint on the side towards which it bends. Were they on the opposite side, they would be in continual danger of bein£ ruptured by the bending of the joints. In a few places the ar- teries become so extremely minute as altogether to exclude the red blood, carrying only a colourless fluid. In a dead animal, the arteries are distinguished from the veins by their whiteness, and the thickness of their coats; those of the veins being much thin- ner and of a blueish colour. The Lungs. With the circulation of the blood, the function of respiration is immediately and necessarily con- nected. This function consists in an animal inhaling the air of the atmosphere, by means of certain or- gans, and then expelling it. The organs destined for this office are called the lungs, or lights. It has been mentioned that a vessel, called the pulmonary artery, arises from ^he right ventricle of the heart, and distributes its blood through the lungs. By the obstruction of the blood in the or^ gans of respiration, the animal is forced to dilate 17 them for the admission of air, and immediately after to expel it by contracting them. For this purpose the thorax is furnished with muscles, by the motion of which that cavity and the lungs are alternately di- lated and contracted. The blood, by passing thus through the lungs* undergoes changes indisputably necessary to life; all animals dying in places from which the air is ex- cluded. Being thus changed, the blood is carried by the pulmonary veins back to the heart, and, as has been mentioned, is from thence circulated over the whole body by a large vessel called the aorta. The blood, when it passes through the arteries* is of a florid, red colour; but when it returns by the veins it is of a dark colour. It has this appearance when it is conveyed into the lungs, from whence it issues with its colour revived. Hence it is evident, that it receives something from the air in the lunffs. When air expired from the lungs is examined, it is found to have lost that portion which consists of the gas, or air, called oxygen, which, from its absorp- tion by the blood, has been called vital air. No animal can live in air deprived of oxygen or vital air ; and from this, the danger in keeping animals crowd- ed in close buildings arises. The lungs occupy by far the greatest part of the cavity of the chest; and they are divided into differ- ent portions called lobes. They are soft, spongy masses, composed chiefly of an . infinite number of cells scarcely perceptible to the naked eye, and which all freely communicate with each other, and with the windpipe, or trachea. Into these cells the iir passes during inspiration. f 18 The Brain and Nerves.* The brain is a soft pulpy substance. Besides the covering of skin and bones, it has particular mem- branes surrounding it called dura mater, tunica arachnoidea, and pia mater. It is proportionably smaller in all quadrupeds than in man. It is divided into two portions; the outermost being very soft, and of a reddish gray colour, and is called the bark, or cortex ; the other is called medulla, which is white, and of a firmer consistence. The brain is supplied with the finest branches of numerous blood-vessels, which penetrate through the membranes. The delicate structure of the brain can hardly be described without actual inspection. There are a Variety of parts to be observed in it, to which ana- tomists have given names; and to which some also have attempted to ascribe particular functions. These investigations, however, are, we fear, beyond the bounds of human understanding. There are certain cavities in the brain which particularly deserve no- tice. They are called ventricles, and are four in number. They are very irregularly shaped cavities, situated in the medullary portion of the brain; and their surfaces are kept constantly moistened with a fluid Avhich sometimes collects in too great quantities, and forms one species of the disease call- ed sturdy. The nerves rise out of the brain. They have the appearance of white cords, and, like the blood-ves- sels, are distributed over every part of the body. They form the medium of communication between the mind and the external world. The nerves are also the organs of motion, and from them comes the power of muscular action ► When the m nerve is * See plate 3d, and explanation. 19 stimulated, the muscle in which it terminates is con- vulsed ; when it is compressed jsr divided, the mus- cle to which it went loses all power, or is palsied. The action of some of the muscles depends on the will of the animal, and is called voluntary action; others are actuated by an internal power, and the action is then termed involuntary. On the first de- pends the motion of particular parts of the body; and the locomotive faculty ; on the second depends the circulation of the blood, the function of respira- tion, digestion, the motions of the intestines, and other actions necessary to life. The Teeth. The age of a sheep may be known by examining die teeth on the forepart of the under jaw. They are eight in number, and appear during the first year, and are all small in size, and pointed. .(Plate 2d, Fig. 3d.) In the second year, the two middle ones fall out, and their place is supplied by two new teeth, which are easily distinguished by their being of a larger size. (Fig. 4.) In the third year, two other pointed teeth, one from each side, are replaced by two large ones, in such a manner that there are four large teeth in the middle, and two pointed ones on each side. (Fig. 5.) In the fourth year, the large teeth are six in number, and only two pointed ones remain, one at each end of the range. (Fig. 6.) In the fifth year the remaining pointed teeth fall out, and are replaced, so that the whole set are large. (Fig. 7.) In the sixth year, the whole front teeth begin to be worn by being constantly rubbed one against another. In the seventh and eighth years, and sometimes sooner, some of the front teeth fall out or are broken, as in fig. 8. * PART II. Of Wounds, &c. Wounds of the fleshy parts not being in general very difficult to cure, it may be proper, although sheep are never much in the way of such injuries, to put it in the power of the shepherd to save the life of a valuable animal, when any accident hap- pens.* The treatment of wounds in brutes differs but very little from the manner of healing them in the human body. The operations of nature are the same in both ; and from these are derived the princi- ples which direct the management of wounds. The cruelties which are practised by ignorant and un- skilful persons, in applying their nostrums, and knives, and pincers, and cords, and burning irons, to poor dumb creatures, call loudly for the interven- tion of common sense and humanity. It is not intended to enter into all the minutiae of possible cases of wounds, and to prescribe a mode of treatment for each. This would require a very large volume, and a series of discussions, which would only tend to perplex and disgust those for whom this work is chiefly intended, without being of any material use. All that is proposed is to direct the shepherd how to act in ordinary cases, in which a reasonable hope of success may be entertained. * The observations which follow will apply to other animals as well as sheep, and on that account may be the more useful. 21 When the fleshy part of a muscle is eut in the direction of its fibres, there is hardly any retraction of the divided parts. But when a muscle is cut across, there is a great retraction, and the wound, according to the vulgar expression, gapes. Thus a very deep and severe wound may, externally, ap- pear to be trifling, and one of less consequence may be thought alarming, when no danger is to be ap- prehended. An effusion of blood follows the infliction of a wound, in a large, or small quantity, according to the size and number of arteries and veins which may have been injured. When the blood-vessels are not considerable, and are completely divided, they re- tract amongst the muscular fibres, and the blood soon ceases to flow from them. When the blood has stopped, another fluid oozes out, and this and coagu- lated blood, are the applications which nature makes for the cure, and which, in trifling wounds, gene- rally prove effectual. But in extensive and severe wounds, another process goes on, if not prevented. A few hours after the infliction of the wound, the parts become red, swelled, and hot; and symptoms of fever are perceived. All the symptoms increase rapidly; and if the inflammation goes beyond the degree necessary for suppuration, mortification ends the pain. But if suppuration comes on, all the bad symptoms abate. The cure of wounds is effected by adhesion, or by suppuration. When the sides of a wound, recently inflicted, are brought into accurate contact, and kept together, they adhere very soon, and the wound heals with little or no trouble. But when a wound has been neglected, and in cases of laceration and contusion, this method of cure cannot be accom- plished, suppuration must then be trusted to, and it must be brought on by every possible means.— During the process of suppuration the causes of in- flammation are removed, and a supply of new flesh £2 is produced wherever a vacancy has been made. This new flesh sometimes grows in such abundance as to render the removal of part of it necessary.' It is in this case called fungous, or proud flesh. Simple Incised Wounds Are those made by sharp cutting instruments, and are usually attended, when considerable, by an ef- fusion of blood. If the effusion of blood be great, and if from its florid colour and starting, it appears to proceed from an artery, it must be quickly stop- ped. If there are no means of applying pressure in the course of the wounded artery, between the wound and the heart, the fore finger ought to be in- troduced into the wound, and when the jet of blood is felt, it may thus be stopped until the wound be made large enough to admit of the artery being tied. An instrument called a tenaculum, which is nothing more than a sharp pointed hook, is the most con- venient for securing an artery. A double thread being waxed, and an open knot made upon it, it is put over the instrument. The artery is then laid hold of by the point of the tenaculum, and drawn out a little, the knot is slipped over it, and firmly drawn, and the ends of the thread are allowed to hang out of the wound. Every bleeding vessel may be secured in the same manner; and this mode of stop- ping the effusion of blood is always to be preferred, as a cure is thus much more quickly and safely carried on than when the sponge, or puff-ball, or rags, arc stuffed into a wound; or when any astringents are applied. Such things prevent the cure being effected by adhesion. When the bleeding is so very profuse as to render immediate applications ineffectual, it may be suffered to proceed till the animal dies ; or some more speedv 6 23 termination may be put to its existence. Bleeding is always most plentiful when the vessels have been only partially cut. If a small vessel thus partially divided be discovered, the flow of blood may often be stopped by the vessel being cut quite through. When the bleeding is ^inconsiderable, it will soon cease. Should the situation of a wounded blood-vessel be such as to render the application of a ligature imprac- ticable, the bleeding may, in many cases, be stopt by pressure on the orifice from which the blood" issues. The pressure must be confined to a very small space; and the best mode of applying it is to place a linen compress, about a quarter of an inch square, on the orifice, or mouth of the bleeding vessel, and to press it with one finger. Whenever the blood has been stopped, or when it ceases of itself to flow, the first thing to be done is to examine the wound, and to remove all extraneous substances that may have lodged in it. If these can- not be got out easily, suppuration must be trusted to for bringing them away. The sides of the wound must be brought together as close as possible. If this cannot be done by bandages and sticking plasters, recourse must be had to the needle. The one used on this- occasion must be crooked, and flat. A double waxed thread being put through the eye, the point of the needle is to be introduced at some dis- tance from one edge of the wound, and pushed as near to the bottom as possible, and then brought out at the other side. The needle being now taken from the thread, the sides of the wound are to be pressed together, and the thread tied so as to retain them. The number of stitches is to be regulated according to the size, and shape of the wound. One is com- monly used for every inch in length, but more must be made if the edges of the wound do not appear to be in perfect contact. If adhesive plaster can be put on, straps of it should be employed to support the stitches, and prevent them from tearing the flesh. A 24 piece of linen spread with emollient ointment is to bd laid over the whole; and if a bandage can be con- veniently, and securely, applied, it will be of very great use. By this treatment, a simple wound may be healed by the first intention. If there be any li- gatures, they may be gently pulled after three or four days, when, most commonly, they will come easily away. At the same time, if the wound has adhered, some of the sutures may be removed, and perhaps all of them. The first dressing should not be chan- ged for three or four days ; and the straps of plaster should be renewed every day, or every second day, till the parts are firmly united. In managing a wound, shepherds should be care- ful in examining it; and if by inflammation and swelling, the dressings and bandages become very tight, (a circumstance which frequently happens,) they should be immediately removed, and a poultice applied; or the parts may be fomented. Dangerous symptoms often occur from very trifling wounds. But if following the directions already given be not attended with success, it is but a chance that any other treatment will be effectual.* * If a more intimate acquaintance with the nature and cure- ef wounds be desired, gratification may be obtained by con- sulting any of the elementary works on surgery. The prejudices of some people will not allow them to be- lieve that there is even the most distant analogy- between the structure of inferior animals and that of the human frame. There are some who despise information, merely because a method of cure, adopted for similar diseases in the human body, is proposed for the disorders of brutes. Some symp- toms of this maybe seen in page 189 of Mr. Hogg's Shep- herd's Guide, where he disbelieves the assertions of Mr. Stevenson, a very respectable surgeon, because he describes what Mr. Hogg never saw; and proposes a method of cure not consistent with the Ettrick Shepherd's notions of medi- cine. I am aware that the reference to books on surgery for further information on the nature and cure of wounds, will appear absurd in the eyes of some people who disregard all knowledge, but what they can gain by their own expe- rience ; a method of acquiring it the most dilatory and ex pensive which can be followed. 25 Punctured Wounds. , In these the orifice is very small in proportion tc .the depth of the wound. Of this kind are wounds made by any pointed instrument, splinters of wood, thorns, the teeth of animals, &c. They are much more dangerous than simple incised wounds; and this is owing to their always exciting a much greater degree of inflammation, and to the difficulty of get* ting the sides to adhere uniformly. When the ori- fice heals before the parts below, very troublesome collections of matter are formed. In such cases poultices are useful. Fomentations, with a decoc- tion of chamomile flowers, will also be of much ser- vice, and are perhaps preferable to poultices. The method of applying them is, to dip a piece of flannel into the decoction when very hot, then to wring it, and apply it to the parts ; dipping the-flannel again, when, the heat has-.gone. off. Lacerated and Contused Wounds. Under this head may also be included the bites of dogs, &c. In such wounds the parts are torn asun- der or bruised so as to have their continuity destroyed. Although in these cases, there is less appearance of danger than in any already described, yet, in real- ity there is much more to be dreaded. From lacera- ted and contused wounds, there is not usually any con- siderable flow of blood, and sometimes there is no effusion whatever; a circumstance by which the dan- ger of wounds is too often ignorantly estimated. The parts, on which the injury has been inflicted, having had their texture completely destroyed, some- times mortify and fall off; or are reduced into mat* ter and sloughs, and thus a cure is obtained by sup- D 26 puration. But inflammation often,comes on so se- verely as to cause a rapid mortification ©f the sur- rounding parts. When mortification begins in the human body, its progress may, in many instances, be arrested. But in the case of an inferior animal, it is, perhaps, impracticable to employ the same means for stopping it. Here, therefore, it is only necessary to point out the means of bringing the wounded parts to such a degree of inflammation as will cause suppuration. When the wound has been cleaned, and freed from all extraneous substances, such parts as are al- most completely torn, or squeezed off, should be removed. A large warm oiled poultice is then to be folded in a bag made of thin linen, or muslin, and laid gently on the wound and neighbouring parts, and should be changed twice a day. Unless the in- jury be exceedingly severe, this treatment will, most probably, bring on suppuration, and the mortified parts will separate. When this has happened, and when this inflammation has abated, the wound may be dressed once a day with a plaster of hog's lard. The wounded animal should be allowed to move about as little as possible, and food should be spa- ringly given to it. Wounds of the Joints Are very difficult to manage. The cure may be attempted by keeping the air from the wound, and bringing the sides into contact by means of sticking plaster. If a great degree of inflammation appear, poultices should be employed. An extensive wound m a joint may be considered as incurable. 27 Poisoned Wounds. Not unfrequently sheep are bitten by snakes. As the wound inflicted by these reptiles is very small, the injury is never perceived till the poison has en- tered into the system. Sheep are often observed to become sickly and to swell. These symptoms are often attributed to braxy and rot, when, in reality, an adder or viper has occasioned the mischief. When it is suspected that a sheep has been bitten by a snake, doses of oil should be given, or, if at hand, small, but frequent doses of volatile salts mixed with water. One of the French journals of 1802, contains the following article : " Snakes have increased this year so much in number on the large commons, that the proprietors have sustained great loss by them. These reptiles, particularly in the spring, suck the milk of the sheep, and when the wound they inflict is deep, the two teats dry up, so that the sheep which con- tinue to be fruitful, can no longer suckle their young; but when the wound is slight, the wounded teat only dries up. In several of the commons in the depart- ment of Landes, there are flocks the sheep of which have been sucked in the proportion of four to one." Sprain^s. The usual treatment of sprains is to keep the part constantly moist with the goulard water. Sprains in the feet of horses, have been relieved by placing the limb in a pail of hot water now and then. It is very probable that this treatment may- be successfully practised when a similar accident hap- pens to sheep.* * I have tried this on the human foot with success 28 Fractures. The mending of a broken bone, though some- what tedious, is by no means difficult, when the skin covering the fracture has not been torn. Let the limb be stretched, and the broken ends of the bone placed very accurately in contact with each other. A piece of stiff leather, of pasteboard, or of thin wood, wrapt in a soft rag, is then to be laid along the limb, so that it may extend an inch or two be- yond the contiguous joint. Whichever of these substances be employed, it should be carefully se- cured in its situation by a bandage of linen, or flan- nel, an inch and a half broad, and two yards long, or more if necessary. After having been firmly roll- ed up, it should be passed spirally round the leg, be- ginning at the foot, and carrying it up to above the end of the splint.* The splint should be worn du- ring ten days or a fortnight, and the bandage should be continued till the leg has acquired its former strength. When any considerable swelling appears, the bandage should be carefully slackened, and tight- ened again when the swelling abates. When a bone is broken in more than one place, all the pieces should be placed in their natural situation, and secu- red and healed in the same manner. It sometimes happens that a fracture is rude, and that part of the bone is protruded through the skin. In such a case a woundrmust be made of sufficient length to allow the bone to be replaced, or a portion of the fractured extremities cut away with a saw. The bandage and splint are then to be applied as al- ready directed, and the wound must be dressed, as often as shall appear necessary from the quantity of the discharge, with hog's lard, or simple cerate. * The term splint is applied to.pieces of wood joined to- gether with leather, or any thing applied to keep broken bones in their places. 29 When a bone has been crushed, amputation is the only resource, which can, with confidence, be pro- nounced safe; but this is an operation which proba- bly will not be attempted. There is, however, a very fair chance of success in laying the limb open, and removing the whole of the injured part of the bone. Although the ends of a divided bone be at a considerable distance, new bone will fill up the space, provided the limb be kept perfectly steady. Operation of Bleeding. This operation is most conveniently performed on a large vein, whose branches are spread over the face of the sheep. The vein may be felt distinctly coming from the neck, and passing over the edge of the lower jaw to the cheek,* about two inches from the corner or angle of the jaw, or opposite to the third of the grinding teeth. When the opera- tion is to be performed, the sheep is to be held be- tween the limbs of the operator, and the croup placed against a wall to prevent the animal from recoiling; the left hand is to be placed under the head, and the under jaw grasped in such a manner, that the fingers come upon the right side of the jaw, so as to press upon the vein, a little below where it is intended to be opened. By thus pressing on the vein, the flow of blood is prevented beyond the place where the pressure is applied; and the blood, consequently, can find no other course but through the artificial opening about to be made. The operator with the lancet or knife,f opens the vein by making an inci- * Although the vein be described as coming from the » neck, for the sake of distinctness, the course of the blood is from the branches to the trunk. t The lancet is the best instrument. In the plate, a case is represented having a knife, or scalpel, at one end? and a 30 sion obliquely across it at the place where the trunk is largest, and where it is most distinctly felt through the skin. The oblique direction of the cut, is found to answer better than either one made directly along the course of the vein, or one across it. While introducing the instrument, it is of great consequence to keep the vein from rolling under the skin, and escaping from the point; this is best accomplished by making the incision close to the point of the fin- ger which presses upon the vein. In diseases of the head requiring bleeding, and in particular inflamma- tions of the eyes, it is most advisable to open the vein of the cheek ; but in diseases of other parts, blood may also be procured from a large vein that runs along the fore leg. This vein passes from the foot along the back part of the leg to the ham, and then goes obliquely over to the fore part of the limb. It is nearest the surface and sufficiently large a little above the knee, and may, at this place, be easily opened. The ope- ration may be best performed by securing the other three feet of the animal; and the operator, by grasp- ing the limb above the place where the vein is to be opened, causes it to swell, and after it is dis- tinctly felt, makes an incision in the manner recom- mended when the vein of the cheek is to be opened. (See plate 3d and explanation.) Operation of Castration. When the delicacy of the organs of generation is considered, it is a matter of astonishment that lambs so seldom suffer, from being cut in the rude manner in which the operation is usually performed. Great losses are, however, sometimes experienced. It often happens that some hundreds of lambs die on one • lancet at the other. Such instruments are made by Mr. Moves, cutler, College-street, Edinburgh. 6 31 farm, while none die on another in the neighbour- hood. This may frequently be accounted for, by some slight difference in the manner of performing the operation adopted by different shepherds, or by some accidental oversight in the management of the animals who have undergone it. By using a very few precautions, and by paying a litde attention in performing the operation, all danger may be avoided. The younger the lambs are when castrated, there is the less risk of losing any of them. Perhaps the best rule is to cut them as soon as the testicles are large enough to be easily got hold of. Some shep- herds wait till the youngest of the lambs are old enough, and then there are many so old that the operation upon these becomes dangerous. It is best ( to take up the lambs as they become fit, however few they may be, which are ready at one time; and in this way much hurry and confusion may be avoided. To this, plan it may be objected, that it will give a great deal of trouble in collecting the ewes often,-and may injure such as are heavy. As to trouble, such an objection is not worth answering. But as there may be some danger in driving heavy ewes too often, that objection can only be partially removed. The ewes ought to be gathered in small parcels, and ? taken to the nearest fold, where the heavy ones may be separated, and the rest taken to the place where the lambs are to be cut. Two collections will be sufficient; and if attention be paid to remove the tups in time, to prevent any late lambs being drop- ped, the shepherd will know exactly when he may gather the ewes for the last time. When the lambs have been cut, they should be put by themselves for a little while, and not allowed to run about in search of their dams. After a lamb has been caught, it should be held a little till its agitation is over. It is then to be lifted and held nt a convenient height for the operator. 32 Different modes of operating have been recom- mended. Mr. Hogg mentions slitting the scrotum ; and it is stated in the memoir drawn up by Dr. Duncan, from the communications to the Highland Society, that the top of the scrotum (by which is to be understood its inferior part) should never be cut away; and from this it may be presumed, that this practice, which has in some cases been found to succeed well, was condemned by all those who sent papers to the society. In one mode of slitting, the scrotum is divided about half way through, about an inch above its lowest p#int. It is possible that the blood will unite the divided parts before inflammation comes on, and thus a bag is formed for matter to lodge -in.; and there being no way for it to get out, it will certainly do mischief. In another mode, a knife is thrust in, and the skin slit up. But in every case there is a risk of the lips of the wound closing and confining matter which may be formed. It is very probable that collections of matter in the scrotum are the cause of the numerous deaths which happen on many farms, while they are attributed to electricity in the air, and many other things, which servants are prompt in bringing forward as excuses, and which masters are too ready to believe. The me- thod so pointedly condemned in the Transactions of the Highland Society does not appear to be the worst. By taking off a part of the scrotum, the testicles are easily started, and should matter form during the cure, it can easily get out. It has been practised frequently on the lambs of my flock, in the following manner. A part of the scrotum being cut off, merely sufficient to allow the stones to pass, the operator starts them by means of his fore fingers and thumbs, pressing on the abdomen with his other fingers. Having removed the stones, in the usual manner, with his teeth, he spits into the scrotum, and presses the sides of it together, drawing it gently 33 forward at the same time. He then pulls the tail, and cuts about half of it off. Spitting into the scro- tum may be ridiculed, but the application is harm- less, and may assist in retaining the sides together till the lips of the wound adhere. The bleeding of the tail undoubtedly contributes to prevent too vio- lent an inflammation, and for that reason the docking is deferred till castration is performed, unless pinding renders the previous removal of part of the tail ne- cessary. Since this simple method has been employ- ed, there has not happened one instance of a lamb dying in consequence of the operation. After all the lambs have been cut, and allowed to stand by themselves for a little while, the ewes are let out, and as soon as every one has found her lamb, they are allowed to walk away to their pasture but are not driven. But a neater mode of performing castration is that which follows. The animal being well secured, the scrotum, or bag containing the testicles, is to be grasped by the left hand in such a manner as to press them forward, and render the skin lying over them quite tense. Two incisions are then to be made through the skin, at the bottom, or. inferior part of the scrotum, sufficiently large to allow each stone to pass when pressed out. The testicles are then to be pushed out, one after another, and extracted in the usual way; or, which is a more surgica^ and a less painful method, the cords may be cut through about half an inch above the body of the testicles. By cutting, profuse bleeding might be expected; and, in such an event, the vessels would have to be secured as already directed; and it would become necessary to examine the lambs from time to time, and catching them might be attended by bad effects on the wounds. But from recent experiments made on full grown lambs, and rams of four and five years E 34 old,* no bleeding of any consequence takes place. On the whole, this seems to be the safest and least cruel method of operating. Operation for Sturdy, or Water in the Head. The disease called sturdy, might have been ar- ranged with the others about to be treated of. But as the cure depends on a peculiar operation, I have thought it best to consider it in this part of the trea, tise. The cause of one species of sturdy has been al- ready mentioned. The collection of water in the ventricle of the brain is deemed an incurable disease, and probably is so. The other, and most common species of the disease, arises from animalcule, called hydatids. In this case the water is contained in cysts, or bags, unconnected with the brain, on which, however, if not prevented, it acts fatally by pressure. It would appear too, that a long continu- ation of the' pressure occasions part of the brain to be completely disorganized, and converted into a substance, the examination of which may afford some instructive hints to anatomists, but which is foreign tp our present purpose. Very soon after water has begun to collect, either in the ventricles" or cysts, the animal subjected to the disease shows evident and decisive symptoms. It frequently starts, looks giddy and confused, and as if at a loss what to do. It retires from the rest of the flock, and sometimes exhibits a very affecting spectacle of misery. * I had six old rams cut in the month of November last, and they^'891 recovered. 4 1 35 Various methods of relieving the pressure on the brain have been proposed, and when put in practice by skilful and patient hands, most of them have succeeded. It would be superfluous to enumerate and describe them all, as a method has been found of perforating the cyst, which has succeeded perfect- ly in numberless instances; and which, from the ease with which it may be performed, very strongly recommends itself. Yet the operation is one which, from reasoning on the peculiar delicacy of the brain, never would have been advised. We are indebted for it, it would appear, to Mr. James Hogg, who tried the experiment to rid himself of trouble, while a herd-boy. He laid hold of every sturdied sheep which came in his way, and (being employed in knitting stockings) he thrust one of his wires up the animal's nose, and forced it through the skull into the brain. In those cases in which wiring proves fatal, it is probable that the instrument does not reach the cyst. There may, indeed, be some por- tions of the brain more delicate than others, and, on the whole, however general the success of vthis ope- ration may be, it must be considered as hazardous. Desperate diseases, however, require desperate re- medies. The more delicate and nice operations of trepan, and extraction of the cyst, are fit to be in the hands of skilful surgeons. But with ordinary servants, the bungling of either, which would be fatal, would occur so frequently, that only the simple operation of wiring shall be described by the explanation of plate 4th, (which see.) An anatomist may make many interesting disco- veries, while attending to the disease and the effects of the operation. That in almost every case part of the brain is displaced and destroyed, has been ascer- tained. If it shall be found that in animals which recover, the brain is reproduced, so as to fill up the space which had been occupied by the cyst, the fact will be curious and important. 36 PART III. DISEASES, Red Water. This, and the following article, are copied from Mr. Stevenson's account of them.* " Red water commonly makes its appearance about the beginning, or end of winter, and first affects about the breast and belly. It consists in an inflammation of the skin, that raises it into blisters, which contain a thin, reddish, and watery fluid. These continue for a short time, break, discharge this matter, and are followed by a blackish scab. When the sheep are exposed to cold, or wetness, the skin being fretted makes the blisters rise; or they often arise from cold affecting the animal internally, thus producing a slight fever, which throws out these vesicles on the body, similar to the scabby eruptions which appear about the face, and more particularly the mouth of those persons affected with cold. The blood in this disease is but little affected, although a little of it oozes into the vesicles on the skin, and communi- cates to them that reddish tinge which gives origin to the name. Red water is a disease that but seldom appears in this country, and it is almost never fatal. In cases where the disease is violent, a little blood * Transactions of the Highland Society. 37 should be taken. The sheep should be placed in a fold by itself, the blisters slit up, and a little infu- sion of tobacco put into them; and the following medicine may be given for three or four mornings successively. Take of flower of sulphur,......2 oz. honey, treacle, or sirop, . . 3 oz. mix them, and divide them into six doses, of which one may be given every morning in half a pint, En- glish, of warm water. If this is found unsuccessful, half an ounce of nitre, mixed with the foregoing re- ceipt, will be attended with good effects, after which a dose of salts may be given, and the body washed with lime water." Erysipelas, or Wild Fire. . " This, like the last-mentioned disease, also affects the skin, and is apt, if not attended to, to spread very quickly among the flock. It is attended with more inflammation than the last; and but seldom with blisters over the body. It commonly appears in August and September, and does not continue above eight days at a time, although those sheep once af- fected with it are liable to relapse. In former times, it was a practice with shepherds to bury those sheep affected with this disease, at the door of the fold with their feet upwards, which they believed acted as a charm to drive it from the jflock. It is necessary, for the cure of this disease, to follow the same me- thod recommended in the red water. An ounce of salts, dissolved in warm water, given every morning, for three or four days, answers remarkably well to begin the cure, when the last-mentioned receipt, with the addition of the nitre, may be continued, till the disease disappears." 5 * 38 The only thing in these prescriptions which seems liable to objection, is giving salts in warm water. The effects of the medicine will be more powerful, and more beneficial, when the solution is administer- ed cold. For washing the body, goulard water is the best application. Scab, or Itch. This infectious, troublesome, and destructive dis- ease is well known. It seldom appears among sheep which have been smeared, and when it does, it pro- ceeds, most probably, from the touch of a diseased animal, of a stone, or a tree, or paling, on which scab- bed sheep have rubbed themselves. A sheep is never, even slightly, affected, but it proceeds to scratch itself, and to rub its sides and buttocks against every thing it meets. As soon as the disease is discovered, the whole flock among which the scabbed animal has been pasturing, should be carefully examined, and every one which has an appearance of being fretted on the skin, must be taken away to be cured. Se- veral ointments have been proposed for the cure of this disease, and that of Sir Joseph Banks seems to have been most approved of. His prescription, how- ever, can only be made by an apothecary, a personage not always at hand, and who may not always have sheep ointment ready when wanted. Every apothe- cary has abundance of mercurial ointment at all times, and if a shepherd purchases a quantity of it to keep by him, with a little oil of turpentine, he may always have it in his power to make up ointment when he requires it, and of such a degree of strength as he may judge proper. The following directions may be found useful: Take of strong mercurial ointment, 4 libs. \ oil of turpentine,..... 1-2 pint, Eng. hog's lard, tallow, or butter, 4 libs. 39 melt the hog's lard, or butter. Allow them to set-' tie, and pour off the clear liquid; then add the mer- curial ointment, stirring the whole well, till it be melted and incorporated, and then add the oil of tur- pentine. Keep stirring the mixture for a minute or two, that the mercury may be completely mixed, and then pour the whole into some shallow vessels, that the ointment may cool quickly. If the mercury should appear to have sunk when the ointment is cold, it may be rubbed a little with a smooth flat stick, on a plate. But there will seldom be any oc- casion for this, if the process be well managed. A very effectual, and a much cheaper ointment may be made as follows:— Take of corrosive sublimate, . . 8 oz. train oil, . . . . . . . . 6 gallons, Eng. rosin, (black or yellow) 2 libs. tallow, . . . \ . . . . . 2 libs. let the corrosive sublimate be reduced to a fine pow- der, and mixed with a portion of the oil. The rosin, tallow, and remainder of the oil, are to be melted to- gether ov^r the fire, and the sublimate afterwards added. If this mixture should be thought too thin, the proportion of oil may be diminished, and that of the tallow increased. Were one or two pounds of pow- dered white hellebore to be added, it would improve both the consistence and efficacy of the ointment. One pound of sublimate, at 10s. will, in this way, go as far as 50 pounds of mercurial ointment, at 3s.* If the wool be not taken off, either of these oint- ments, or that of Sir Joseph Banks, is to be laid on, in the same manner as smearing stuff, beginning with a line along the back; one is to be laid on each side and one down each leg. The neck, inside of the * Mr.Manderston, apothecary, Rose-street, Edinburgh,makes up a strong ointment with corrosive sublimate, which is very convenient, as it may be diluted to the required strength with oil and tallow. 40 thighs, and belly, should have a share. In every case, however, the wool should be shorn, except during very cold weather, and the animal washed and brush- ed with soap and water, before the application of the ointment, which may now be applied all over the body. The mercury will have more effect, and less of the ointment will serve, when all filth, and loose scabs have been removed by the washing. What is recommended in another part of this work, viz. anointing the sheep after being shorn, will be found a very effectual means of warding off the scab, and every disease of the skin. The Leg Evil, or Black Leg, Is a very formidable disease. It begins at the hoof, or knee, which swells, and makes the sheep quite lame. The limb is usually covered with small blis- ters, filled with a bluish fluid, and the skin is of the same colour, and soon breaks out in sores. This disease being infectious, care must be taken to re- move every animal affected by it from the flock. The wool being removed, the diseased limb should be well washed and cleansed with soapy water. The sores should be dressed with some caustic ointment. Perhaps basilicon, mixed with red precipitate will be found very useful. A little burnt alum, in powder, may be put upon the sores, and the whole limb should be wrapped in a cloth spread with the scab ointment, thinly laid on. Maggots. When, on the examination of a sheep, or lamb, which appears harassed and restless, the tumours 41 under which the maggots are concealed are observed, they should be freely opened, that the vermin may be picked out. The sore may be anointed and co- vered with a rag spread with smearing stuff. This dressing being daily changed, a recovery is made in a few days. Means of preventing the attacks of flies, which deposit the eggs from which the mag- gots issue, will be pointed out when the manage- ment of sheep is considered. Sore Nipples. Lambs very often die of hunger, from their dams refusing them suck. The cause of this is sore nip- ples, or some tumour in the udder, in which violent pain is excited by the striking of the lamb. Wash- ing with sugar of lead and water, or spirits, will re- move the complaint. Foot-rot. There cannot be a more complete and distinct ac- count of the foot-rot, than that contained in a me- moir by M. Pictet, which has been translated, and printed in the Philosophical Magazine, from which it is now transcribed.—" I think I shall render a ser- vice to the proprietors of sheep, by calling their at- tention to a malady, which, to my knowledge, has not been described by the veterinarists of any coun- try ; and which, to the present moment, appears to have been unknown in France. The following is the occasion, upon which I observed it. " In the month of May, 1804, I received %from Piedmont a flock of 200 sheep, of various mongrel 42 breeds, of the second and third generations. The animals came to hand in good condition, but some of them were lame. The flock was placed, with a hundred other mongrels, on a low mountain, the pasturage of which is healthy, and of good quality. We did not pay very great attention to the lame sheep, because, in general, upon a journey, they cripple often from fatigue alone, and their lameness goes off after resting a while. I never yet received a lot of Spanish sheep, among which there were not a few lame ones at their arrival; but this defect was never of long continuance. In the present case, however, the lame animals became worse and worse, and every day others of them began to grow lame, while none of the others grew any better. Not sus- pecting any contagion, we attributed this affection to the rocky nariire of the pasturage, to the frequent journeys which the sheep took from a rivulet to go and feed; and, also, to the circumstance that the sheep- fold was not frequently enough renewed. We took precautions against all these various causes ; and yet the malady continued among the sheep. At the end of six weeks every one among them was lame, and some of them were affected in all their four legs. The}' crawled upon their knees whi}e feeding, and the worst of them fell off very -much in their ap- pearance. It now became indispensably necessary to assist this flock by every means in our power. We removed them to the distance of six leagues. Their removal was not efiected without great trouble, and was very tedious; we also had recourse to carriages for conveying the most diseased among them. But in spite of all our care many fell victims to the dis- ease, unable to bear the fatigue. The different in- dividuals of the flock presented all the varieties of the disease, which may be reduced to three princi- pal ones. The animals, in the first stage of the dis- ease, were only a little lame, appeared without fe- ver, and preserved their appetite. Upon inspecting 43 the foot, there was only a slight redness discovered at the root of the hoofs, or a slight oozing out of matter round the hoof; sometimes only a slight de- gree of heat in the lame foot, without any apparent irritation. " The sheep which had the malady in the second degree, were lame all fours, had a "fever, appeared dull, fed slowly, and were often on their knees, if the fore legs were attacked. Upon inspecting the foot, there was an ulceration, as well at the root of the division of the hoofs, as at the junction of the horn to the leg, accompanied by a foetid whitish sanies. " Such animals as were in the third degree of the disease had a continual fever; they were meagre and sorrowful, rose up with difficulty, and lost their wool. The ulceration of the feet was venomous, and re- sembled a white gangrene. Purulent collections were formed under the hoof, and made their appear- ance at the junction of the horn and the skin. Among some sheep the hoof was detached, or entirely de- stroyed ; and the flesh of the two divisions of the foot was one complete ulcer. In others the hoof had kept on, because the flowing of the purulent matter made its appearance at the sole, and had gnawed and completely destroyed it. In this case * the interior of the foot, after turning it up to look at it, offered only a putrid mass filled with worms, con- tained in the horn of the hoof; the flesh and ligaments appeared completely, destroyed, and the bones of the feet were carious ; the smell was cadaverous and in- supportable. - " We endeavoured, at first, to classify and separate the animals, according to the stage of the disease. The antiseptic lotions, such as red wine, vinegar, extract of bark, and oak bark, were employed; as also the fumigations of nitric acid, to weaken the putrid tendency, and second the effects of the re- medies. I heard, from Piedmont, that the vitriol 44 of copper, in powder, as a drying caustic, was very useful at the commencement of the disorder, in checking its progress. We employed it, without any remarkable success, upon such animals as were only slightly attacked. It is probable that the con- tagious influence, which we had not yet learnt to guard against sufficiently, had destroyed the effect of this remedy. The acetate of lead, or saturnine extract, was employed with more advantage. An- timonial beer was useful in drying the wound, and the lapis infernalis in burning the bad flesh, which was speedily reproduced after the incisions, which accompanied the complete clearing of the feet. " The treatment of a flock, in this miserable situa- tion, is extremely perplexing. Four shepherds, and several assistants, were employed in taking care of the 300 lame sheep; and it was an extremely disagreea- ble business for all of them. The animals were ex- amined every day, one by one; and such of them as were unable to go to pasture were fed in the sheep cot, where the forage was carefully spread out for them, because the sick animals had neither strength nor inclination to pull it out of the racks. It was necessary to renew the litter often, and to perfume the sheep cot several times a day, a precaution which prevented the smell from becoming insupportable to those who dressed the sores. This was not all, the lambs had made their appearance before we had overcome the disease; several of the poor sheep mis- carried, or produced lambs which were so weakly that they could not live; others of the lambs died for want of milk, and those which survived took the disease,' all which increased our difficulties. The disease raged with all its violence for three months; and during a whole year many of the animals con- tinued lame. If we calculate the loss of the animals which died of the disease, the loss of the lambs, and the great expenses attending so tedious a cure, we may be convneed that the scab itself, terrible as \\ 45 is, is a less troublesome malady than the foot rot, when it is contagious and general in a flock. Before pointing out the method of preventing and curing this evil, I shall mention a fact, which will show how far it is contagious, and of how much conse- quence it is to increase our precautions, in order to get rid of it. The rams, who were upon the moun- tains at the same time with the diseased flock, took the foot rot. They were separated from the rest of the diseased animals; and, at the end of four months, after having passed through all the usual operations, they appeared to be cured. They still had tender feet, however, and walked with pain; but as the hoof was well recovered, and there was no appear- ance of ulceration upon it, they were driven to the neighbourhood of a Spanish flock. They were pla- ced under a penthouse, separated from the sheep cot by a wall. Some of these rams continued to eat out of the racks, on their knees, which we attri- buted to the sole of the foot not being yet consolida- ted ; but, at the end of fifteen days, we perceived that an oozing out of purulent matter had again com- menced at the junction of the horn of the hoof. They were then transported to an infirmary, to be submitted once more to the same treatment. The straw upon which diey had lain was not taken away; and the Spanish flock having afterwards been sent into the penthouse, the foot rot began to show itself among them in about fifteen days. The rigorous measures and precautions followed, and the treatment I am about to recommend, hindered the disease from proceeding any farther in this flock than the second degree, otherwise I do not believe that a single beast -voiild have escaped. Precautions and Treatment. u At all times, upon receiving a strange flock, it is tdvisable to keejp them separated, until it is well as- 46 certained that they are not infected with the scab, or any other contagious disorder. The precaution is not less proper in the case of the foot rot; for al- though there may be no crippled animal in a flock newly come to hand, yet there may be one among them which had been imperfectly cured during the journey,, and in which the disease may break out anew. If there are any actually lame at their arrival, they must be carefully examined. Sometimes it hap- pens that they may chance to be crippled from some other cause than the foot rot. On a journey the clay sometimes gets hard between the hoofs, and thereby lames the animals. A single glance will suf- fice to see whether this be the cause of the lameness. Sometimes they are lamed in consequence of the gland between the hoofs being swelled. This is cured of itself, or, at worst, by cutting off the gland ; and it is not contagious. At other times the animal is crippled merely from fatigue; for which a little rest is the obvious cure. But if the district from v which the sheep came is suspected, all diseases of the feet must be examined more cautiously than usual. A heat in the foot is a certain sign of an abscess ex- isting in the hoof, to which an outlet should be given. The animal must then be separated from the rest, and the operation performed which I am about to de- scribe. " If the ulceration is visible, the place must be cleaned with a rag, and goulard water laid upon the sore, by means of a feather; or the powder of blue -vitriol. In order to prevent any dirt, &c. from get- ting into the wound, the diseased foot should be placed into a little boot, the sole of which is of lea- ther or felt, and the upper part of cloth, in order to fasten it round the leg of the sheep. This precau- tion is not only favourable to the animal, it also pre- vents contagion, which seems to be communicated by the pus, or sanies, which flows from the ulcers upon the litter of the sheep-fold. But where the disease 6 47 is situated between the division of the hoof, the boot must be large enough to allow the foot to be moved in its natural way; for if the two divisions were locked together, the disease would fester instead of healing. " When the disease is seated within the horn of the hoof, it is attended with great pain, without any visi- ble disease. The animal does not rest upon the dis- eased leg, yet it has all the appearance of being wdll. Upon putting the hand upon the hoof it is found to be very hot, which is easily ascertained by comparing it with the sound legs. We must then endeavour to discover on what side the abscess, or interior ul- cer, is. In order to do this, the foot of the animal must be slightly pressed with the thumb all round the junction of the horn, and the skin, as well as the sole of the foot. The seat of the abscess may be easily ascertained by the wincing motion of the foot. This is the place which must be cut with a keen edged knife, so as to occasion the discharge of the matter, and lay the flesh bare. When the wound has bled for some time, a feather, wet with the water of gou- lard, is laid upon it, and the boot above described put on. " It sometimes happens, that upon pressing the foot with the finger, no place can be fixed upon as being the seat of the disease. This is the case when the abscess is seated below the hardest and thickest part of the hoof. In this case it is necesary to make large incisions, sometimes without arty benefit, be- fore finding the disease ; and, after waiting a day or two, the matter of the ulcer begins to appear, and eats through the horn, in descending to the sole, which then becomes painful at the place where it is necessary to make the incision. In general we need not be afraid of cutting into the quick, and bleeding the diseased feet; the horn of the hoof grows again with singular expedition. I have often seen feet which were completely unhoofed; others, of which 48 part only of the horn was taken away, which healed much sooner than such feet as were scarcely ulcer- ated. " It would seem that in this disease the juices which administer to die reproduction of the horn, or hoof, exist in greater abundance, in the above places, in disease, than in health. When the dis- ease is neglected, and where the sole of the foot has been gnawed off, and the whole foot ulcerated, I often found that the sides of the horn had sent out cross slips, from one side of the sole to the other, thereby becoming a sort of boot, on which the ani- mal rested without much pain. Sometimes also the horn, in growing again, assumes uncommon shapes. " The dressing must be repeated every day with the greatest regularity. It consists in removing the boot, and cleaning the wound with goulard water. The other feet of the animal must be examined, as well as the diseased one ; for the disease often passes from one foot to another, and it is sometimes visi- ble to the eye before the animal is lame in the foot recently attacked. Some drops of goulard water will then prevent the progress of the disease ; when ihe disease is taken in time, five or six days are suf- ficient for the cure. If a good deal of horn has been removed, it will require a longer time, until the horn has grown, again, and assumed sufficient consistence for the animal to walk without being crippled. As long as the least matter is perceived and the wound is not dry and cicatrized, even al- though the animal is not lame, it must not be thought cured, for it will carry back the conta- gion to the flock from which it had been separated. It must not be allowed to pasture with the rest until completely healed; and even then all its four feet ought to be bathed with vinegar for a few days, at first. Unfortunately, this malady is subject to fre- quent returns. I have often seen animals which ap~ peared to be well cured, which walked perfectly well 49 for fifteen days, and then were again seized. Those which have already had it, so far from being less subject to it, are more exposed to it. This happens from the nature of the treatment. The remedies I have prescribed can only check the progress of the disease ; and until we have discovered a purify- ing specific, we may often see the disease reappear on the same animal. It is of great importance to be extremely vigilant in placing the animals in the in- firmary, and in taking them away in proper time. In the season when the sheep do not leave the fold, the lame ones are not easily discovered, and some- times not until the disease is of some standing ; so that the disease may have been communicated to many others, before the diseased animal is taken away. If the least degree of infection is supposed to exist, they ought to be walked up and down, every day, in an enclosure, in order to observe if any of them is lame. It is also necessary to remove them from the infirmary as soon as the ulceration disappears, because they may take the disease again from those around them. Fumigations of nitric acid are salutary for preventing the smell, and may also hasten the cure of the ulcers. The litter should also be frequently changed; and when removed, it must not be left in a place where the healthy animals are liable to be exposed to it. When these precau- tions are resorted to, and the care taken which I have described, there will be no danger that the disease will assume any serious appearance. " Every thing pertaining to the knowledge of this disease, which is absolutely new in Fiance, and, I have reason to believe, unknown in Spain, is ex- tremely important to the proprietors of Merinos, or mongrels. I hope those who are in possession of any new facts, on the subject of the foot rot, will pub- lish them. I obtained from a professional man of Piedmont, a succinct memoir concerning this dis- ease. I shall here insert it." G 50 k/Sheep, and particularly those with the finest wool, are subject to a contagious whitlow, which hinders them from pasturing; and which, on account of the pain and the suppuration which it occasions, gives them a continual fever, which increases in the evening. They fall off in flesh, and lose their wool, the rams lose their appetite for copulation, the mo- thers lose their milk, the lambs are weak, and die of consumption. " There are three kinds of whitlow, which succeed each other. The first is seated under the epidermis, between the two divisions of the foot; the animal is seen to halt; if we lay hold of the foot it feels hotter than usual, and it has a bad smell. Upon ex- amining the place, an oozing out of matter is dis- covered.. The second species of whitlow is seated under the horn. In this case the lameness and the heat of the foot are greater, as also the degree of fever. The third species attacks the phalanges, or the bones of the foot, and is caused by inattention to the two former stages of the disease. The cure of this last is very troublesome and difficult. The disease arises from long journeys, pasturing in marshy places, allowing the sheep to mix with swine, or from lying in damp folds without litter. " Preventives. 1st. Remove, as much as pos- sible, the above causes. 2. Separate the diseased from the healthy animals the instant the infection ap- pears. " Cure for the first stage of the complaint. As soon as the shepherd perceives the disease, he must dry the place affected very carefully with a linen rag, and spread over it vitriol of copper in powder. " In the second species of whitlow, it is necessary to cut off that part of the horn- which is detached from the phalange. We should begin cutting at the point of the horn, and proceed upwards. This ope- ration must be performed by paring, successively, thin slips off the horn; when the horn is completely 51 removed, and the flesh bare, the receptacle of con- tagious matter is discovered. Sometimes it has gnawed very deep, and then the ulcer must be cleaned to the very bottom, by continuing to cut by little and little. In order to clean the wounds thus laid bare, the foot must be plunged into water, heated to such degree that we can scarcely hold the hand in it. The diseased foot must be plunged and replunged into this hot water several times, letting it remain only a few seconds, at each time, in the water. It is then dried with a cloth, and a feather, dipped in muriatic acid, is drawn over the place. The animal must be kept in a fold, where there is plenty of straw, for twenty-four hours. Next day it may be put out to pasture, where there are no stones or thorns. Every night the feet of the animals must be inspected, and if any ulcers are again formed, the treatment must be renewed. They must be always dressed in the even- ing, because the repose, during the night, greatly contributes to the good effects of the remedies. " The whitlow, of the third species, is very diffi- cult to cure. The horn must be cut, and the flesh taken off also, and the carious bone must be then scraped, and seared with a red hot iron." " The manner of operating with the knife is ex- tremely well described in the above memoir. The analogy between the treatment of whitlow in human creatures, and that in animals, shows how efficacious the immersion in hot water is, as recommended by the author; and the careful cjeaning of the ulcers, upon which he insists, is extremely important. I en- treat that intelligent agriculturists may communicate to the public their observations, from time to time, on this disease, and the best method of cure." To the distinct account of the foot rot contained in the above memoir, nothing can be added. But the method of cure described by M. Pictet and his friend, does not seem to h tve been either expeditious or ra- dical. Although M. Pictet appears not to approve 52 of the application of blue vitriol, yet there can be lit tie doubt of caustics being useful in the first instance. It is probable that the tardiness of the cure was owing to the >ery slight dressing put over the sore. It is likely too that the cure would have been hastened by the administration of some cooling medicine inter- nally. The following mode of treatment is humbly suggested to those who may be so unfortunate as to discover this disease among their sheep. Let the animal, in the first place, get a dose of glauber salts. The ulcer having been laid open and cleaned, it is to be washed with weak caustic ley of pot-ash,, or soda, and filled-with scraped linen, dipped in oil; or, what is better, goulard cerate. The dressing of ce- rate is to be continued, every evening, until granula- tions of fles>h appear to be filling up the space formerly occupied by the matter of the ulcer ; and if it should be necessary, the washing with caustic ley may be repeated. Common cerate may then be applied, and should the flesh grow too luxuriantly, a little red pre- cipitate and burnt alum may be dusted upon it. When a w holesome suppurative discharge has taken place, gentle pressure may be applied to bring the sides of the sore towards each other, taking care always to give free vent to the matter. The limb should be carefully washed with vinegar and water.* This treatment is recommended for most ulcers to * Having lately observed one of my Merino lambs halting, and apparently lame in both fore feet, I examined them care- fully and observed that the hoof was growing inward. Having pared it, I let the animal go, and it seemed to be very much relieved ; but two days afterwards I again observed the lame- ness, and on examining the feet, 1 felt them very hot. I did not perceive any swelling, or oozing out of matter. I was convinced, however, that foot rot was beginning, and I succeed- ed in preventing its further progress by frequently dipping the feet into hot water and putting a pledget of tow, soaked with simple ointment, having a tenth part of sugar of lead mixed with it, into the divisions of Uje hoof and anointing the whole foot with it. 53 which sheep or other animals may be liable, from wounds of the skin having been neglected, or other causes. The different kinds of matter which issue from ul- cers are, Pus, or the matter of suppuration ; it is thick and yellowish white. Sanies, is a thin green coloured matter. Ichor, is reddish, and very acrid. Sordes, is a gluey kind of matter. The three last have a much more disagreeable J,mell than the first Rot. This disease never attacks sheep on dry land. It has been observed to affect sheep which were before healthy, almost immediately on their being sent to feed on soft wet pastures. Mr. James Hogg and others assert that the rot is caused by a sudden fall in condition. As these gentlemen do not mention what, in their opinion, occasions this sudden fall, we may safely presume that it is not meant to ascribe it to any other cause than hunger. But hunger is not properly a disease, and its effects on the animal eco- nomy are very different from rot, whether the pri- vation of food be sudden or gradual. . Besides, we often hear of sheep having been buried in snow for weeks together, a situation in which they must be subjected to a sudden fall in condition, for want of food; but we never hear of sheep which have been so buried becoming rotten. This of itself is suffi- cient to overset Mr. Hogg's theory, notwithstand- ing that it is announced with an unusual degree of confidence. We learn of Mr. Hogg himself, that sheep die of the rot while in good condition, and even when very fat; and the whole account he gives 54 of this disease seems to contradict his ideas respect- ing the cause of it. Others have assigned bad and unwholesome food as the cause of rot. A sudden fall in condition may accompany the disease without having induced it. A sheep may continue to fill its belly,' and yet fall off. It is the cause of the transi- tion from fatness to leanness, and not the transition itself, that ought to be looked to. If that cause be hunger, rot will not be the consequence, but the usual effects of starvation will follow. It is well known that on healthy pastures, whether so rich as to keep - sheep fat, or so poor as only to bring them into or- dinary condition, the rot is not known. Soft rank grasses, whether abundant or scarce, invariably oc- casion the disease. Mr. Hogg says, that it is the disease which creates an appetite for such grasses, and not the grasses which cause the disease. But he has not been acquainted with the various experi- ments that have been made by bringing healthy sheep to graze on rank grasses ; nor with some accounts on record, of sheep travelling from one place to another, and by chance resting on rank meadows, and being almost immediately seized with the rot. Indeed it is now so well understood that rank grasses act as a sort of poison on the stomachs of sheep, that the rot is very easily avoided. All the species of rot may be reduced to 6ne, and all the symptoms may be referred to unwholesome food. This being the case, the cure, in the first stages of the disease, does not present many difficulties. The first object is to free the stomach and intestines from their pernicious contents by means of a purgative, such as common or glauber salts, and when that is accomplished, wholesome food will most probably complete the cure. But when the disease has advanced it becomes very complicated, and has been deemed incurable, The complication of disorders, which are always observed iri the ad- vanced stages of the rot, might be expected where bad food is supposed to be the cause of it; for this must 55 vitiate the blood, and different organs may then be- come diseased. Accordingly we find the liver, the lungs, and the whole system affected, and water is fre- quently found in the belly. It is very probable that consumption of the lungs is a common disease among sheep; and that it has, in many instances, been mistaken for rot. Mr. Ste- venson, indeed, has considered the lungs to be its chief seat. Cold is the most frequent cause of con- sumption, although inflammation may be excited by- other means. Sheep are sometimes born with little tumours, call- ed tubercles, on their lungs ; and these appear to be the original seat of the disease ih them, as in the hu- man subject. These tubercles being inflamed by cold or other means, swell and become filled with matter. Sometimes they are coughed up in this state ; but most frequently they degenerate into ulcers, which spread and consume the substance of the lungs. When the lungs are affected in any case of rot, it is a hopeless business to attempt a cure, especially if they are suspected to be ulcerated. But as it may often happen that such tubercles as have filled with matter may be coughed up, mere difficulty of breathing need not deter us from attempting a cure. But the liver must be considered as the principal seat of the disease ; and as it is the organ which prepares the bile, which assists digestion, we ought, by all means, to endeavour to restore it to a sound state. With respect to the fluke-worms formed in the livers of rot- ten sheep, their production cannot be fully explain- ed; and it would be improper to enter into any detail respecting them here; it is sufficient that we know that they do exist in diseased livers, to be convinced of the propriety of destroying them if pos- sible. Purgatives are probably the most proper medi- cine to administer first, in all the stages of the disor- der, when a cure is to be attempted. 56 The medicine to which we may look-with greatest confidence in the advanced stages of rot, appears tc be mercury. It would, perhaps, be improper to ad- minister this internally. The safest and most effec- tual method of applying it, is in the form of the com- mon blue ointment, and a trial of this is strongly re- commended to those whose flocks are liable to rot. It should be applied to the bare skin on the region of the liver, and the size of a nut rubbed on till it is all dried up, twice a day, for a week or ten days. This in conjunction with wholesome food, will, in all pro- bability, prove to be the most effectual treatment. Mercury is well known to be a specific for the diseased liver of the human body, and on that ac- count, we may presume that it will be efficacious in the cure of the same organ in sheep, and it is also recommended as the most effectual means of destroy- ing the fluke-worm. The poke, or swelling under the jaws, does not appear to be a symptom peculiar to the rot. Cattle are subject'to similar swellings, and in them they are often so large as to prevent the animal from swallow- ing. It is not improbable that the poke may some- times have the same effect on sheep. Mercury will probably remove it. Consumption of the lungs, and the effects of hunger, seem to be confounded with the disease properly called rot, and we must wait till future observations enable us to distinguish the symp- toms before a more particular account of the differ- ent disorders can be given.* * Since writing the above, I have read the following note, p. 147. of Dr. Coventry's Introductory Discourses. " Rot is a word which has been employed to express a va- riety of disorders afflicting this animal, with no small confu- sion and detriment. Indeed, in few instances, has senseless indiscrimination done more mischief; for means inept and injurious have been had recourse to, where skilful and time- ly interference would have had the happiest effects. Sheep are sometimes said to have the rot, when they labour under 57 Sickness, or. Braxy, Is a disease, the symptoms of which can seldom be observed till all hopes of cure must be given up. Sheep^have been seen eating heartily as if in perfect health, and suddenly to start and fall down dead, and when opened immediately, the putridity of the whole carcase occasions a stench, often so intolerable as to force most people, however curious, to abstain from an examination of the body. The disease in all its varieties is inflammatory, and from the great tendency of the inflammation to run into mortification, it may be termed a putrid dis- order. The progress of the inflammation in gene- ral excites great pain, but when mortification begins the pain ceases, and thus we may account for sheep appearing well, and suddenly dying. The causes of the intestines becoming inflamed in this disease may be very various. Costiveness from eating hard dry food, drinking cold water when the*1 body is over- heated, or its being plunged into water while in that state, or suddenly drenched by rain, or chilled by a phthisis fiulrnonalis which they do but rarely, or under disor- ders of the liver, as hepatitis chronica, and that state of the same organ produced or attended by the fasciola hefiaticm Spain, was acknowledged by tbe manufacturers who saw it, to A. .2 be, to all appearance, of the very first quality ; yet none of them chose to offer a price for it at all equal to what they themselves gave for good Spanish wool, lest, as they said^ it should not prove in manu- facture so valuable as its appearance promised. It became necessa- ry, therefore, that it should be manufactured at the King's expense, in order that absolute proaf might be given of its actual fitness for the fabric of superfine broad cloth ; and this was done year after year in various manners, the cloth always proving excellent: yet the persons to whom the wool was offered for sale still continued to un. derualue it, being prepossessed with an opinion, that though it might not at first degenerate, it certainly sooner or later would alter its quality much for the worse. In 1796 it was resolved to sell the wool at the price that should be offered for it, in order that the manufacturers themselves might make trial of its quality, although a price equal to the real value should not be obtained: accordingly the clip of that year was sold for 2s. per pound, and the clip of the year 1797 for 2s. 6d. The value of the wool being now in some degree known, the clip of 1798 was washed in the Spanish manner, and it sold as follows: The number of fleeces of ewes and wethers was 89; Which produced in wool, washed on the sheeps' backs, 295 lbs. Loss in scouring,...... 92 Amount of scoured wool,.....203 Which produced, Raffinos, - - - 167 lbs. at 5s. per lb. Finos, 23 at 3s. 6d. Terceros, - - - 13 at 2s. 6d. 471. 8s. Od. The clip of 1799 was managed in the same manner and produced as foHows: The number of fleeces of ewes and wethers was 101; Which produced in wool washed on the sheeps' back 346 lbs. Loss in scouring,......92 Amount of scoured wool, .... 254 Which produced, Raffinos, - - 207 lbs. at 5s. 6d. per lb. Finos, - - - 28 at 3s. 6d. per lb. Terceros - - 19 at 2s. 63/. 14s. 6d. 3 The rams' wool of the two years sorted, together produced as fol- lows : Quantity of wool washed on the sheeps' back, - 314 lbs. Loss in scouring, .....- 99 Amount of scoured wool, .... 215 Which produced, Raffinos - - 181 lbs. at 4s. 6d. per lb. Finos 22 at 3s. 6d. Terceros - 12 at 2s. Od. 457. 15s. 6d. k. It is necessary to account for these extraordinary prices by stating that in the year 1799, when both sales were effected, Spanish wool, was dearer than it ever before was known to be ; but it is also proper to add, that 5s. 6d. was then the price of the best Spanish piles; and that none were sold higher, except, as it is said, a very small quantity for 5s. 9d. The king has been pleased to give away to different persons, who undertook to try experiments by crossing other breeds of sheep with the Spanish, more than one hundred rams and some ewes. In order, however, to make the benefit of this valuable improvement in the sta- ple commodity of Great Britain accessible to all persons who may chuse to take the advantage of it, his Majesty is this year pleased to permit some rams and ewes to be sold, and also command that reasonable prices shall be put upon them, according to the compara- tive value of each individual; in obedience to which it has been sug- gested that five guineas may be considered as the medium price of a ram, and two guineas that of a ewe ; a sum which it is believed the purchaser will, in all cases, be able to receive back with large profit, by the improvement his flock will derive from the valuable addition it will obtain. Though-the mutton of the Spanish sheep was always excellent, their carcases were extremely different in shape from that mould which the fashion of the present day teaches us to prefer; great improvement has, however, been already made in this article, by a careful and attentive selection of such rams and ewes as appeared most likely to produce a comely progeny ; and no doubt can be en- tertained that, in due time, with judicious management, carcases covered with superfine Spanish wool may be brought into any shape, whatever it may be, to which the interest of the butcher, or the ca- price of the breeder may chuse to affix a particular value. H Sir Joseph Banks, who has the honour of being intrusted with th« management of this business, will answer all letters on the subject of it, addressed to him in Soho-square. The rams will be delivered at Windsor; the ewes at Weybridge in Surrey, near Oatlands. As those who have the care of his Majesty's Spanish flock may na- turally be supposed partial to the project of introducing fine wool in these kingdoms, it has been thought proper to annex the following notice, in order to show the opinion held of a similar undertaking in a neighbouring country, where individuals, however they may have mistaken their political interest, are rather remarkable for pursuing and thoroughly weighing their own personal advantage in all their private undertakings, and for sagacity in seizing all opportunities of improving, by public establishments, the resources of their nation. FRENCH ADVERTISEMENT, " On the 24th May last, an advertisement appeared in the Moni- teur, giving notice of a sale of two hundred and twenty ewes and rams of the finest wooled Spanish breed, part of the flock kept on the national farm of Rambouillet : also two thousand pounds of super- fine wool, being the present year's clip of this national flock ; and one thousand three hundred pounds of wool, the produce of the mixed breeds of sheep kept at the menagerie at Versailles." This adver- tisement, which is official, is accompanied by a notice from Lucien Bonaparte, Minister of the Interior, as follows; " The Spanish breed of sheep that produce the finest wool, intro- duced into France thirty years ago, has not manifested the smallest symptom of degeneration r samples of the wool of this valuable flock, which was brought from Spain in the year 1786, are still pre- served, and bear testimony that it has not in the least declined from its original excellence, although the district where these sheep have been kept is not of the best quality for sheep farming; the draughts from this flock, that have been annually sold by auction, have always exceeded in value the expectation of the purchasers, in every country to which they have been carried, that is not too damp for sheep. 5 "The weight of their fleeces is from six* to twelve pounds each, and those of the rams are sometimes heavier. " Sheep of the ordinary coarse woolled breeds, when crossed by a Spanish ram, produce fleeces double in weight, and far more valua- ble, than those of their dams ; and if this cross is carefully continu- ed, by supplying rams of the pure Spanish blood, the wool of the third or fourth generation is scarce distinguishable from the original Spanish wool. " These mixed breeds are more easily maintained, and can be fat- tened at as small an expense as the ordinary breeds of the country. " No speculation whatever offers advantages so certain, and so considerable, to those who embark in it, as that of the improvement of wool, by the introduction of rams and ewes of the true Spanish race, among the flocks of France, whether the sheep are purchased at Rambouillet, or elsewhere ; in this business, however, it is of the greatest importance to secure the Spanish breed unmixed, and the utmost precaution on that head should be used, as the avarice of pro- prietors may tempt them to substitute the crossed breeds instead of the pure one, to the great disappointment of the purchaser. " The amelioration of wool at Rambouillet, has made so great a progress, that in a circle from twenty-four to thirty-six miles in dia- meter, the manufacturers purchase thirty-five thousand pounds of wool, improved by two, three, or four crosses. Those who wish to accelerate the amelioration of their flocks by introducing into them. ewes of this improved sort, may find abundance to be purchased in that neighbourhood at reasonable rates." A REPORT Of the state of his Majesty's Jlock of fine -wooled Spanish sheep, during the years 1800 and 1801; -with some account of the progress that has been made towards the introduction of that valuable breed into those parts of the United Kingdom -where fine clot/iing -wools are grown -with advantage. On the 9th of June, 1800, when His Majesty's Spanish flock was * This must meanfeeees unwashed, or in the yolk, as it is tcchmcalh, termed- 6 shorn, it consisted of 100 ewes and wethers, which produced as follows : Wool washed on the sheeps' back, . . 398 lbs. Loss in scouring ........104 Amount of scoured wool, .....294 Which produced when sorted, Prime, 234 lbs. at 5s. per lb. Choice, 34 at 3s. Fribbs, 26 at Is. 6d. 651. lis. Od. Eight rams and nine ewes were this year disposed of, which were all that could be spared from the flock. Two of the rams went into Dorsetshire, where the breed is much approved by some skilful judges of sheep, and seems likely to produce considerable advantage by crossing with the common sheep of the country. Mr. Bridge of Windford Eagle, communicated this year the result of an experiment he had made on three kinds of sheep, viz. Dorset, half Spanish and half Dorset, and half Spanisli and half Mendip. He kept these sheep from the year 1798, when they were lambed, till February 1800, when they were butchered as fat sheep ; and having valued them in June 1798, he found the carcases of each sort, with two years' wool which ha3 been shorn from them, to yield at that time the following increase in value : Real Dorset,......41. 5s. 6d. Half Spanish half Dorset, . 41. 3s. 8d. Half Spanish half Mendip, . 31." 19s. 2d. In these experiments Mr. Bridge's wool stapler values the Dorset wool at Is. 2 l-2d. a pound, and the half Spanish wool at Is. 4 l-2d. only ; but as the Spanish cross in both cases increased the quantity of wool, and as half Spanish wool has never, when its value was pro- perly known, been sold for less than Is. 9d. and generally more than 2s. per pound, there can be no doubt that the improvement in value arising from the cross is in both cases considerable. Mr. J. Ridgeway, of Upperton, in the parish of Yazer, in Hereford- shire^ communicated an experiment, in which two sheep, the one a Ryeland, and the other half Spanish and half Ryeland, of equal weights, were fed by him together : the half Spanish sheep produced in a year 2 lbs. 12 oz. more wool, and 5 lbs. more mutton than the Ryelander. This gentleman, whom his Majesty graciously permit- 7 ted to have rams from the Spanish flock some years ago, has also shown by his accounts that the wool of his flock of about 16 score of aheep, has been so much increased both in quantity and in value by the Spanish cross, as to have produced nearly twice as much money for each clip after the Spanish blood was established in it, as it usual- ly did before. In June 1801, the Spanish flock consisted of 108 ewes, and weth- ers, Which produced in wool washed on the sheeps' back, 397 lbs. Loss in scouring, ......112 Amount in scoured wool,.....285 Which produced when sorted, Prime, - - 237 lbs. at 5s. 6d. per lb. Choice, - - 31 at 3s. 6d. Fribbs, - - 17 at Is. 9d. 721. Is. 9d. The wool of the rams and fatting wethers, which had been kept separate, was prepared for sale at the same time, and produced in Wool on the sheeps' back, - 220 lbs. Loss in scouring, - - 82 Amount of scoured wool, - 138 Which produced when sorted, Prime, - - 96 lbs. at 5s. per lb. Choice, 30 at 3s. 6d. Fribbs, - -. 12 at Is. 9d. 301. 6s. Od. This year eight rams and twenty-two ewes were sold. If the foot rot had not unfortunately damaged the rams very materially, more of them would have been disposed of. It is, however, observable, that although the rams that are kept at Windsor, in rich land, are occa- sionly attacked by this harrassing disease, the ewes and wethere which feed on dry and hilly pastures of Oatlands, have never beea subject to lameness of any kind. Eleven wethers that had been sent to the marshes in order to try the effect of rich pasture in fattening sheep of this breed, were slaughtered this year by Mr. King, of Newgate market, previous to 'He Snuthneld meeting, which usually takes place the week before 8 Ojiristmas. Two of the carcases were given to persons who had been useful in ascertaining the value of the Spanish breed ; the re- maining nine were sold to Mr. Giblet, butcher, in Bond-street, whose judgment in selecting, and liberality in purchasing, the best carca- ses is well known both to those of whom he buys, and to those who buy of him. The sale bill is as follows : sheep, 6 stone, 6 lbs. at 6s. per stone, 7 0 6 - - - 6 1 6 - 7 3 6 5 6 6 - - - 5 2 6 5 7 6 - 5 4 6 6 2 6 - heads and plucks, at 1 10 stone, 4 lbs. fat at 3« 10rf: - 11. 0*. 6d. 2 2 0 1 16 0 2 3 6 1 14 6 1 11 6 1 15 3 1 13 0 1 17 6 0 11 0 2 0 3 Total, 19/. 5s. 9d. Respecting the goodness of the mutton, inquiry must be made of Mr. Giblet, at whose shop the carcases were shown for several days, and of his customers who purchased the joints. Experience has, liowever, demonstrated already, both at Windsor and at Weybridge> that Spanish mutton is of the best quality for a gentleman's table. The pelt wool of these eleven sheep was taken off, in order that its value might be ascertained. It weighed in the y«lk, - - • - 36 lbs. Loss in scouring, ------ 8 Amount of scoured wool, ----- 28 It was sold as skin wool for 4s. 6d. a pound, and of course, produ- ced 51. 19*. or 10s. a sheep, all expences deducted. The amount of this profit was quite unexpected and holds forth a source of advan- tage in this breed, that has not probably hitherto been calculated upon. Of all who have laboured to render his Majesty's patriotic views in importing Spanish sheep permanently useful to his subjects, Dr. P«rry of Bath, deserves the highest commendation. Amidst the la- 9 hours of a profession always toilsome, when successful, and parti- cularly so at Bath, where persons, whose diseases cannot be ascer- tained by the faculty elsewhere, continually resort, the Doctor found leisure to employ himself in the improvement of the British fleece,. by crossing various breeds with Spanish rams, presented by his ma- jesty to the Marquis of Bath, and to the Bath Agricultural Society. The prizes the Doctor has continually obtained from the judicious and respectable body from whom he borrowed rams, for cloths made of his own wool, in the midst of a manufacturing country, and amongst abundance of able competitors, proves to a demonstration, that he has brought the fleeces of the mixed breed very nearly to the value of the original Spanish ; nor is this to be wondered at, when we re- collect that the effect of a mixture of breeds operates in the follow- ing proportions : The first cross of a new breed gives to the lamb half of the ram's blood, or 50 per cent. The second gives......75 The third --.--.. 871-2 The fourth......- 93 3-4 At which period it is said, that if the ewes have been judiciously selected, the difference of wool between the original stock and the mixed breed is scarcely to be discerned by the most able practition- ers. More need not be said of the Doctor's merit ; his book, which every man who wishes to improve wool ought to read, will give a more just idea of thte acuteness of his discrimination, the diligence with which he pursued his purpose, and the success that finally at- tended his judicious management, than can be stated in the brief form of a report like this. Much, however, as Dr. Barry deserves the gratitude of all who honour the fleece, Lord Somerville's merit stands at least as emi- nently conspicuous. Emulating the example of his sovereign, his Lordship, whose just discrimination of the value of different breeds ofstock, is admitted by the most experienced agriculturalists, made a voyage to Portugal for the sole purpose of selecting by his own judgment, from the best flocks in Spain, such sheep as joined in the greatest degree the merit of a good carcase to the superiority in wool which the Merino flocks are allowed to possess. His Lordship succeeded, and brought home, more.than two years ago, a flock of the first quality, which will probably repay with B 10 advantage the costs of the undertaking, as some of his Lordship's rams are said to have been already sold for 100 guineas each. As ten crops of wool have now been shorn from his Majesty's Spanish flock, and not a single sheep has been introduced into it du- ring the whole of the two years that have produced them: and as the tenth crop afforded nearly five-sixths of prime wool, and only one fourteenth of fribbs, it is to be hoped that the deep-rooted prejudice which has for ages deceived the people of England into an opinion that Spanish wool degenerates in this climate, will now be finally lodged in that catalogue of vulgar errors which the increase of human knowledge daily enlarges. It is to be hoped also that a bold assertion hazarded here, that the mutton of Spanish fine wool- ed sheep is course, tough, and little better than carrion, will be con- tradicted by the evidence of Mr. Giblet, and his customers, to the satisfaction of those who have unwarily given credit to it. His Majesty having been pleased to permit the sale of such sheep as can be spared from the Spanish flock to be continued, the rams will be delivered at Windsor, and the ewes at Oatlands, in the latter end of August. As, however, it has been suggested to his Majesty, that the carcases of the sheep are evidently improved, and that the wool has rather gained than lost in value, six guineas will in future be the price of a ram, and two that of a ewe. And as his Majesty has been graciously pleased to continue to entrust the management of the flock to Sir Joseph Banks, all letters on the subject of it, ad- dressed to him in Soho Square, will be answered, and the utmost endeavours used to consult the convenience of those who wish t» become purchasers. I July, 1802. A REPORT Of the state of Ms Majesty's flock of fine -wooled Spanish Sheep, far the year eliding Michaelmas, 1803—by Sir JOSEPH BANKS, F. R. S. The wether lambs of the last year-having been sold in their wool, and the rams' wool retained in order that two year's growth might be prepared for sale together,, his Majesty's Spanish flock consisted when shorn, in June, 1802, of ninety-six ewes only; the fleeces of these, after having been washed on the sheep's backs as usualj, weighed as follows : 11 352 lbs, ■ 96 256 63/. 10s. 9d. 5 12 0 0 5 3 lit wool as shorn from the sheep, Loss in scouring, -----. Amount of scoured wool, - This wool, when sorted, produced as follows : Prime wool, or R. 221 lbs. at 5s. 9d. Choice Locks, or E. 32 3s. 6d. Fribbs, or T. 3 Is. 9d. 69/. 8s. 0J. After deducting the expense of sorting and scouring, at the high rate which an individual, who is not a manufacturer, must pay for these processes, this wool is worth about 51. a tod, or 43/. 5s. a pack, as clipped from the sheep's back. The prime wool was purchased by John Maitland, Esq. Member of Parliament for Chippenham, whose mercantile house, established for more than a century, has always dealt largely in the importation ©f Spanish wool, and who, from the first introduction of Merino sheep into this country by the King, in the year 1787, has uniformly given the most liberal and zealous aid to the promotion of his Ma- jesty's patriotic views, though doubtful in the beginning of the ulti- mate success of the project. It was made into cloth by Mr. Edridge, a manufacturer of Chip- penham, whose skill and respectability in his line are exceeded by no man. He inspected its quality with the most minute exactness, and with an eye more inclined to expect symptoms of degeneration than of improvement, during the whole of the numerous processes to which wool is subjected in the making of broad cloth, and he found that in every one of them, it answered to his complete satisfaction. The cloth made from this wool proved so excellent in its kind, that the King was graciously pleased, at the desire of Mr. Maitland and Mr. Edridge, to permit these gentlemen to explain, in his Majesty's presence, its qualities and peculiarities. Samples of this cloth may now be seen in Mr. Maitland's warehouse, in Basinghall-street; and it will be found, in conversing with Mr. Maitland and his partners, that in their opinion, the raffinos of his Majesty's wool, considered as a pile, are inferior to but few of the best of those imported from Spain, though it is probable that no pile in Spain throws out so small a proportion of finos and terceros. From this opinion it may fairly be deduced, that his Majesty's wool has improved since the sheep 13 were imported from Spain ; indeed there is every reason to believe that it is still improving, and will in a very few years equal, if not excel, the very best piles that have hitherto been imported into this kingdom. Mr. Toilet, a gentleman of Gloucestershire, who has purchased Merino sheep both from the King and from Lord Somerville, has been vei-y successful in improving the carcase without damaging the wool; he posseses a ram, bred from a ram and an ewe both pur- chased from the royal flock in 1801, which, when clipped in June last, yielded 11 lbs. 12 oz. of unwashed wool. The carcase of this sheep was then estimated bv good judges at 10 lbs. a quarter ; and it was admitted to be a handsome sheep. For this animal Mr. Toilet has refused an offer of 200 guineas, or of 100 for the next year's use of him ; he also refused 30 guineas each for the sire and the dam, though old and infirm, being unwilling to part with animals which had belonged to the royal flock ; he however sold their ram lamb of the last year for 30 guineas, and thus made some progress in ascer- taining the value of this important breed. These facts, which prove an amelioration in the King's Merino sheep, are fully confirmed by the improved shape and weight of his Majesty's shearling rams of the present year, and give a justifiable hope, that by a due selection of rams and ewes, and a correct judgment in matching them, Merino sheep will in time be pro- duced with carcases perfectly fashionable, and wool as perfectly fine. No purchaser having been found last year for the lambs' wool at a price adequate to its value, it was made into light lady's cloth, which proves excellent, and promises to be a valuable article. A specula- tion, however, has offered for manufacturing the lambs' wool into su- perfine woollen hose, which seems likely to yield a still better price for the raw article than the cloth. The demand for his Majesty's Merino sheep increases at present beyond all calculation. The best informed clothiers in Gloucester- shire, enlightened no doubt by the useful labours of the Bath Society, and the valuable experiment of Dr. Parry, as well as by the Doctor's, and by Lord Somerville's publications, are amongst the most anxious applicants to purchase. The Bath Agricultural Society, whose at- tention has been most particularly directed to the improvement of British wool, humbly requested the King to give them a Spanish ram ; which request his Majesty most graciously complied with last autumn and they returned thanks in the warmest terms of respectful gratitude and satisfaction. 13 As speculation in the value of Spanish sheep is evidently on the increase, and a reasonable probability now appears that his Majesty's patriotic exertions in introducing the breed, will at last be duly ap- preciated and properly understood, it would be palpably unjust should the views of those who wish to derive a fair advantage from the sale of the progeny of Spanish sheep purchased by them from the royal flock, be in future impeded by a continuation of the sale of the king's sheep at prices below their real value. This circumstance having been stated to the king, his Majesty was graciously pleased to per- mit the rams and ewes that are to be parted with from the royal Merino flock this year, to be sold by auction in the same manner as is done at Woburn, by his Grace the Duke of Bedford, and at Holk- ham, by Mr. Coke, on the presumption of this being the most likely manner of placing the best individuals of their improved breeds in the hands of persons most likely to preserve, and further to improve them. JOSEPH BANKS. 17th August, 1803. POSTSCRIPT. As the publication of this report has been delayed by unavoidable circumstances to so late a period, it is proper to add, that the wools of 1803 have yielded, both raw and scoured, much as usual. The prime, or raffinos, of the ewe flock, were sold for 6s. 9d. a pound, and that of the rams for 6». 6d. These enormous prices, however, de- pended on a scarcity of imported Spanish wool, and are highly dis- tressing to the manufactiu-er ; they ought not, therefore, to be allow- ed to enter into the speculation of the grower. 10th July, 1804. I have not been able to procure any report which may have been made of the progress of his Majesty's flock, subsequent to the above period. I have reason to believe that they have been discontinued. The sales of drafted rams and ewes from this flock have been con- tinued. The following is an account of the sale which took place in August, 1807. 14 KAMS. Lot 1 A four-toothed ram, 2 do. 3 do. 4 do. 5 do. 6 do. 7 do. 8 do. 9 do. 10 do. 11 do. 12 do. 13 do. 14 . do. 15 a six toothed ram, 16 do. EWES. Lot \7 a full mouthed ewe 18 do. 19 do. 20 do. 21 do. 22 do. 23 do. 24 do. 25 do. 26 do. 27 do. 28 do. 29 do. 30 do. 31 do. 32 do. 33 A full mouthed ewe. 34 A six-toothed ewe. 35 do. 3d -do. "7 do. 14/ 3s. 6d. 17 6 6 now in my possession. 18 18 0 14 3 6 26 5 0 23 2 0 now in the possession of 15 15 0 Mr. M'Leod, of Geanie>, 38 17 0 Ross-shirc. 26 5 0 29 8 0 18 18 o > 26 5 0 26 5 0 23 2 0 43 1 0 34 13 0 now in my possession. 11 11 0 15 4 6 12 1 6 17 17 0 21 10 6 22 1 0 now in my possession. 26 5 0 " do. 27 6 0 28 7 0 24 3 0 19 10 0 27 6 0 31 10 0 now in the possession of 27 6 0 Mr. M'Leod of Geanies. 29 8 0 27 6 0 now in my possession. 32 11 6 11 11 0 10 10 0 10 10 0 16 S 6 now in the possession of Mr. M'Leod of Geanies. \o Lot. 38. An old ewe, or with some defect, mark- ed " an ewe" in the catalogue, 11/. Is. 6d. 39 A six-toothed ewe, 13 2 6 40 do. 10 10 0 41 do. 17 17 0 42 do. 21 0 0 Of tire above, eight came to Ross-shire. One of the ewes which was in Mr. M'Leod's possession, died last spring (1809.) LETTER From Dr. Parry, -who is mentioned in Sir Joseph Bank's Reports, to the Bath and West o England Society. From Papers of the Bath Society, vol. X, Gentlemen Circus, 10th Dec. 1804. Having, during the last thirteen years, carefully attended to the cultivation of a breed of sheep, for the wool of which, in various forms, the Society has done me the honour to award me several pre- miums, I think mv self called upon to communicate to them the gene- ral result of my experience. This I shall do in form of propositions, each of which I shall attempt to demonstrate by specimens now ex- hibited to the Society. I must premise, that except a few Morfe ewes, which I employed at the commencement of my experiments, but which 1 soon thought I had good reasons for discarding, my ewes were wholly of the rye- land breed, selected for me in Herefordshire, and altogether uncon- taminated by the admission of any of the larger and more fashionable kinds. The rams which I have employed for the original crosses have been Merinos, from the flocks of the King and Lord Somerville. Of these rams I have at different times used about ten. 1. The first proposition which I shall endeavour to establish, i*, 16 that the wool of the fourth cross of this breed is fully equal in fine- ness to that of the male parent stock in England. (Here follow references to specimens.) I may add, that, except by accident, the wool of no clip short of the fourth, equals in fineness that of Spain. 2. By breeding from select Merino-rj eland ratss and ewes of this stock, sheep may be obtained, the fleeces of which are superior both to those of the cross bred parents, and of course to those of the origi- nal progenitors of the pure Merino blood in England. (Reference to specimens ) In 1802, I ignorantly hoped to improve my wool by one dip more of the Spaniard. Accordingly one hundred of my best ewes were served by three pure Merinos. The consequence was, that the en- tire produce was considerably coarser than that of the former gene- ration. What comparison the produce of these mixed rams with unmixed English ewes, will bear with those descended from pure English ewes crossed with the pure Merino, I cannot from my own experience de- monstrate. All, however, which I know tends to prove them in no respect inferior ; and I have the evidence of a breeder of Southdown sheep in Surrey, whose letter to me I am ready to produce, if re- quired, and who has this year employed these vams to upwards of six hundred ewes, to show that their lambs, both in wool and carcase, are superior to those* from pure Merinos. I heed not point out to the So- ciety the important consequences which result from this fact. 3. From mixed rams of this breed, sheep may be obtained having wool at least equal in fineness to the best which can be procured from Spam. The doctor produced a specimen of the N. E. or Nigretti pile, for which a manufacturer in a neighbouring county, deservedly of the highest reputation, lately gave, in the unscoured state, 6s. 9d. per lb. This specimen is peculiarly interesting, because it is from that Spanish flock which furnished the Merino sheep now in the posses- sion of the King, and from which are descended most of our mixed races. The finest specimen was " the Lastini pile ;" for which, unscoured, the gentleman who favoured me with this specimen, gave, nearly a year ago, 6s 9d. per lb. ; of course, when scoured, it was then worth 7s. 9 l-2d. per lb. and I believe it could not now be obtained without a considerable advance of price. This is the finest specimen 17 of Spanish -wool -which I have been able to procure during the last twelve years ; but I do not think it equal to that of my rams' fleeces, Nos. 6. and 7- In comparing many of my fleeces with the imported Spanish wool of these most vaunted piles, there is one difference which will surely strike the most unskilful observer—that while the latter is dry, and harsh, and untractable, mine is to the touch, soft, flexible, and lilky. 4. Wool, from sheep of a proper modification of Merino and Rye- land, will make cloth equal to that from the Spanish wool imported into this country. Whatever merit there may be in these articles (the spi ci- mens) I will hereafter assign sufficient reasons, why they are by no means equal to what may be expected from my stock at a future pe- riod. 5. The proportion of fine wool in the fleeces of this cross breed, is equal, if not superior, to that of the best Spanish piles. In what is called a pile of Spanish wool, the R. or raffino is as 20 ; the F- or fino, 4; and the T. or tercera, 1: that is, the F and T are equal to one-fourth of the R. or one-fifth of the whole; the F. one-fifth of the R. and the T. one-twentieth. In the blue cloth, No. 14, the R. was 44 lb. the F. 7 1-2 lb. and the T. 2 1-4 lb. According to the above proportion of the Spanish, the F- and T. of this wool should have been 111b.; whereas they were only 9 3-4 lb. This difference of 1 1-4 lb. is in the F. wool, which is so much less than in the pure. Spanish. I beg the Committee to examine and express their opinion, whether this F. wool of my flock is not superior in quality to what! is usually imported from Spain. I am told that my T. wool is entitled to the same comparative preference. 6 This wool is more profitable to the manufacturer than the best Spanish. It requires 60 lb. of good Spanish wool, in the imported state, to make 30 yards of broad cloth, dyed in the wool of the proper sub- stance. These 60 lbs. waste in scouring to 52 lbs. Hence it follows, that 52 lbs. of scoured Spanish wool are necessary to make 30 yards of good wool-dyed broad cloth. The R. wool of the British cloth, No. 14, having been 44 lbs. should therefore have made about 25 1-3^ yards; whereas, in fact, it made 26 3-4 yards; and, it is asserted by the manufacturer, that if it had not deceived him as to its capa- city of milling, to which is owing its uncommon strength, it would have reached in length one yard and a half more of cloth of the usual 2 18 Substance. This account corresponds with that of Mr. Waletoon'a prize cl >th from my wool, in ihe year 18u2. The rafiino wool-dyed and picked blue was 47 lb. which might probably have been 48 lb when only scoured. Now, 48 lbs. of scoured Spanish wool should make about 27 3-4 yards of broad cloth ; whereas the Same quan- tity of my wool, in this instance, produced 30 1-2 yards of cloth; which the draper, even at that time, sold for 23s. a yard. " From these, and many other similar facts which I could adduce, I think myself authorised to infer, that this wool wastes less in the manufacture, and is, therefore, weight for weight more valuable than imported Spanish wool. For this di; erence very satisfactory reasons might be given ; but I shall not take up the Society's time with enu- merating them. It is sufficient forme to state, and Ithink, to have proved the fact. I have spoken above as to the superior softness and flexibility of this wool. It is probable, that several gentlemen are here present, who, in manrfacturing it, have found even the coarser samples to make much finer cloth than their appearance in the wool promised. Fur- ther evidence as to this point will be adduced under the next prop»- sition. As to its capacity of felting, I need go no further for proof than to the blue cloth No. 14, in which, as hath been before observed under this head, it turned out greater than was justified by the common appearance of Spanish wool. 7- The lamb's wool of the Merino ryeland breed will make finer ploth than the best of that of the pure Merino breed. In order to demonstrate this, I beg leave to exhibit three pieces of lamb's wool broad cloth. The superior firmness of the cloth No. 20, to that of No. 19, is a convincing- proof of the truth of the second proposition. At the same time 1 beg leave to ask, whether any gentleman here present has ever seen any cloth from imported Spanish lambs' wool, equal to this in fineness tnd softness. Thus is established the truth not only of this 7th proposition, but also of the 6th. I do not, however, exhibit this cloth as the best which may be produced from the lambs of this %ross.* The wool was not uniformly good. Hereafter I shall assign * liambs got by a Merino ryeland lamb: 19 the reason of this inequality, which it cannot be doubted that I shall be able to correct, should it be thought necessary. 8. Should long wool of this degree of fineness be wanted for shawls, or any manufactures which cannot be perfected with our common course long wools, the rams'fleece of the cross breed, which is exhi- bited, will prove that this can be effected bv allowing the fleece %o remain on the animal unshorn for two years.f I beer leave here to trouble the Society with a few remarks. Ihave said that the cloths from sheep's and lambs' Wool now exhibited, good as they certainly are, are still not the bes' wlvch are to be ob- tained from mv flock. It will be reasonable to ask. wh<- I do not ex- hibit the best ? I answer, because I have not hitherto had a sufficient choice offleec.es It has already been seated, that till the fourth cross, the produce of rveland ewes cannot be made to equal the Me- rino in fineness. On this nrinHnle, r-n'r one, who w'll (rive himself the time to calculate, will find that, beginning with 1000 ewes of the English blood, he will be eitrht rears unless his hnrbs take the ram before he has one hundred and twentv-five sheep of that fourth cross. What then must have been the rrse v -th xre. wrc or scire > rr.rs could not procure Spaniards to serve ann'iallv more than from five to twelve ewes ? Tn fact, exclusivel" of the nest fleeces, always reserved for exhibition and comnarison. T have not hitherto been able to p- propriate to the manufacture of fine cloth more, in any one year, than about thirty-five fleeces ; and of these several have been only of the second rate. Of this class I consider the fleeces employed for the cloths, and more especially the cassimere, now exhibited. Having now much better rams, a further advance of time, and more expe- rience, I mav reasonably hope to remedy this deficiency. It will not, however, be till the year 1S08, which is seventeen years from the ■j- Messrs. Tessier and Huzard gave an account to the French Na- tional. Institute, of the sale of the -wool and sheep of the flock of Ram- tovillet, in the year 9, (1801) as -well as of the progress of the ameliora- tion of -wool in France during that period. The most intereating expe- riment mentioned bit them -was that of leaving the -wool on some sheep for two years: by these means it acquired double length, gave a double weight, without any inconvenience to the animals, and was rendered ex- ceedingly proper for the manufacture of woollen stuff's, so that it was em- ployed in making kerseymeres, which were presented, and which are eqnWk (o the best English stuffs of that kind.—Ph, Mag. £• commencement of my experiments, that 1 shall expect to have a flock of four or five hundred sheep, all equal in fineness of fleece to Nos. 6 and 7. Before I conclude, I wish to call the attention of the Society to one more important point ; which is my 11th and last proposition; that though I have never selected a breeding ram or ewe on account of any other quality than the fineness of the fleece, this stock is already much improved as to the form of its carcase, comparatively with the Merinos originally imported. For this purp Je, I exhibit three two-toothed rams, eight ewes, two and four-toothed, and four chilver lambs. These sheep have not been fed for exhibition. All have eaten only grass. They have been constantly together in great numbers ; and notwithstanding any want of merit as to high condition, an inconvenience very easily remedied by those who attach importance to it, they will be found superior in carcase to most pure Merinos which I have seen. I think they show that by a proper selection, this breed may soon become equal in car- case to the best southdowns. From the siie of the two-toothed rams, no one will hesitate to conclude that wethers of this breed, at two shear, may easily be made to reach 16 or 18 lb. per quarter. I beg the Society's pardon for having so long intruded myself on their attention. I shall probably give them little trouble of this kind in future ; but as the subject at this time especially, is of great importance to the commercial interests of the country, I request that they would permit the committee to examine the several proposi- tions which I have stated, and report on them, separately, at the general meeting to-morrow. C. H. PARRY. Extract of a Letter from Dr. Parry, to Sir George MKenzie, Bart. The accounts which you give me of the hardiness of the royal Merinos is extremely gratifying to me, as it confirms my own expe- rience, and answers the only solid objection which could lie against the introduction of that breed into our shamefully neglected wastes. I trust that the breeders of sheep in Great-Britain will now speedily see their own true interest and that of their country. If you breed from the ryeland ewe, you will be astonished ulti- mately to see the superiority of the progeny, both as to carcase and fleece to the pure Merino race. I enclose a small specimen of the wool of on« of my rams, the grandson of a Spaniard by the male, 21 and not nearer than the great grandson by the female ; and I have much pleasure in adding, that the very finest piece of cassimere ever seen by our manufacturers, was this year (1807) made from my shearling rams of the same cross, unshorn when lambs. Dr. Parry's two works, the one published in the year 1800, and the other in 1807, contain the fullest information respecting his im- portant experiments, and are strongly recommended to the perusal of all those who wish to be particularly informed of the progress of the improvement of British wool. Copy of a Letter from Sir James Montgomery, Bart. M. P. to Sir George M'Kenzie, Bart. Pen. ith, 27th January, 1808. Sir—I was prevented answering your first letter till now, owing to my not having been till lately in that part of the country where my Spanish sheep are, and where my papers relating to them are kept. The breed I have are a part, or rather the descendants of the Meri- nos that belonged to the Edinburgh wool society. Upon the disso. lution of the society, about twelve or fifteen years ago, my father got that part of their flock. From a letter of the late Lord Daer, insert- ed in the Farmer's Magazine, for August, 1805, I observe that Sir John Sinclair procured that breed for the society from M. Daubmen- •on, in France, and the descendants in my possession answer exactly to the description given in his Lordship's letter, of that gentleman's breed. Ever since these sheep came into our possession, they have been pastered upon some fields at Stobo, of middling quality, but dry and well sheltered, and about from 600 to 700 feet above the level of the sea. Thty have been managed in the same manner as the other sheep of the country, and had nothing given them in winter, except when the depth of snow rendered it impossible for them to support themselves on the pasture, when they got a little hay or a few tur- nips. I think them as healthy a breed as any I know. They are in- deed frequently lame, and I know many gentlemen think the Merino breed peculiarly subject to the foot rot. But 1 am not satisfied they are so. The lameness seemed to be occasioned by the outside horn of the hoof growing too fast, and by doubling under the sole, injured it, and dirt getting into the sore festered it. I speak incorrectly, per- £2 haps, when I say, the horn of the hoof grows too fast. I believe the growth is not materially great but owing t© the sheep being confined in a field, small compared to the extent they delight to range in, did not get sufficient exercise to wear it down. They are a very active kind of sheep, and well adapted in their form for travel. My opi- nion is formed partly from noticing the state of their feet at differ- ent times, and partly from observing that in frost, when the ground is very hard, they are never lame, and if previously lame soon get well. For two years I weaned the Spanish lambs along with the lambs of my hill farm, on a large rough heathy hill, and none of the lambs were lame, although they were sometimes lame in their usual pasture. I likewise kept a few of them on the hill farm for se- veral years, when they never showed any symptoms of lameness- This last experiment gave me a high opinion of the hardiness of the Spanish sheep, especially after they were a year old. The farm upon which it was made, consists of a valley and range of hills covered with heath and grass, the lowest part of which is about 700 feet, and the highest about 1800 feet above the level of the sea, and without any other shelter than the hills aflbrd In autumn, 1804, I sent seve- veral Spaniards to that farm, the precise number I do not recollect. It proved unfortunately, a very unfavourable season for young sheep, my loss in hogs upon that farm, which is stocked with the Cheviot breed was from 15 to 20 per cent. The loss among the Spaniards was still greater, only two survived the winter. The others either died or were withdrawn from'the hills for fear of their dying. But these two remained on that farm for three years, and though they got nothing but what they could pick up on the hills during winter, they were at all times as healthy as any of the flock, and one of them in particular was esteemed by the shepherd, the most active, and the best snuw breaker under his charge. They are always, how- ever, much leaner than the rest of the flock. This remark may likewise be applied to those which pastured in the parks. They are certainly much inferior to the native breed in the quality of fatten- ing. They are, however, in tolerable order in the month of Septem- ber, and made excellent fine grained and well flavoured mutton. If they had been better cared for during winter, I have no doubt they would have been still better. The lambs are never fat enough for a gentleman's table They resemble kid, more than lamb. I sent the wool of 1801, to Mr. Laycock, wool stapler in South- wark, to be scoured, sorted and sold, for the purpose of ascertain- 23 53 1-4 35 3-4 17 3-4 8/. 0 0 0 0 6 1-2 0 0 6 1-2 8/. 8 0 1-2 ing whether the wool had degenerated in quality from their long r* sidence in this country. The account he returned me is as follows: Fleeces in the yolk, 17 weighed, - - - 51 1-2 1 Hereford fleece, - . . - 1 3-4 Scoured clean, Loss in scouring, . Sold Raffinos at 5s. Od. - - 32 lbs. Finos, 2 s. 6d. - , 3 Terceros, Os. 9d. - - - 3-4 These prices I understood to be as high as were given that year, for any Spanish wool, and the very small quantity of finos and" ter- ceros, shows that the wool had not in any degree degenerated in con- sequence of our cold climate. The wool of 1802 and 1803 was sold to the manager of the cloth manufactory at Inverleither, at 3s. 6d. per English pound in the yolk. I observe in my books that the fleeces of 1803 had been accurately weighed, 35 fleeces weighed 114 lb. 14 oz. which, at 3s. 6d per lb. gives lis. 5 3-4d. each fleece, and makes the average weight 3 lb. 4 oz. I must observe, however, that several of the ewes were very old, and produced very little wool. I think 6 lb. a fair average weight of the rams' fleeces, and from 3 to 41b. for the ewes. I had the wool of 1804 made into cloth at Inverleither, but the dressing of the cloth was ill executed. It was, however, a soft pleasant cloth to wear, and wore well. In 1805 I got 4s. per lb. for the wool in the yolk, which has been the price I sold for in 1806 and 1807. The crosses I have tried have been with Hereford and Southdown ewes. The former produces the finest wool; the latter the largest sheep, and greatest quantity of wool. I prefer the former ; and after two crosses it is difficult to distinguish the wool from the entire Spanish. The price at which the wool of the croas breed sold, was 6d. per lb. under the Spanish. The shape and carcase were much improved by these crosses ; the cross br^ed fatted better than the pure Spanish, though still hiferior in that respect to our, native breed. 34 Three years ago! gave Sir John Stuart, of Coltness, a Spanish rani, who put him to some of the common black faced ewes. 1 saw lately three of the produce at Coltness, which were well shaped, and the shepherd told me they were active and hardy. The wool of this cross was sold for two following years at 2s. 6d. per lb. of 22 oz. in the yolk. I have likewise crossed some Shetland ewes with the Spaniard, but I do not like the produce Ttiey have little wool, which can nei- ther be classed with long or short wool, and the animals like the mo- ther are wild, and difficult to fatten. I have parted with my Spanish flock lately to Mr. Malcolm Laing, who is to take them to Orkney. Mv doing so did not proceed from any idea of their being an unprofitable stock, but because I have a large flock of Cheviots on a hill farm, and I think it more advantageous for me to pasture my grass grounds with the drafts from my Cheviot flock, than by keeping any separate stock for them whatever. I have no doubt, that to a country such as Orkney, distant from mar- kets for fat sheep, and where the inhabitants require but little, the introduction of the Spanish breed will be very advantageous, for they are sufficiently hardy for the climate, and their wool so thick and oily, that rain does not affect them. I have examined the skin of these sheep, after they had been exposed a whole day to the rain, and found their skins as dry as if they had been in a house ; nothing but the outside of the fleece gets wet. Whether in a country where there is a great demand for fat cattle, this breed can be reckoned more advantageous than any other, ap- pears a doubtful question, in their present unimproved state. In time the Merinos will be improved both as to shape and quality of fattening, in the same way as all other breeds have been improved, viz. by a proper selection of those to breed from. In their present scarcity that cannot take place. People desirous of having that breed are glad to take any kind of them they can get, and breed from them when too old to rear a well shaped offspring. In their present state, at least in the case of those I have, 1 think it very doubtful whether the loss upon the carcase is not equal to the gain on the wool. Believe me, your's sincerely, JAMES MONTGOMERY 2.5 LETTER From General Robertson, of LuJe, To Sir George Mackenzie. Mderney, 29th December, 1807. Dear Sir, 1 have delayed for some time to answer your very acceptable enquiry concerning the progress of the Merino breed of sheep intro- ducing on my estate, until I might become not only particularly in- formed of all the circumstances relating to them since I last left home, but also to be able to give you (in so laudable an undertaking as that of endeavouring to remove the prejudices against so valuable a breed) every sort of information I have been able to procure from different parts of England, where their advantages have already been proved beyond every other species of sheep. This subject being so nearly connected with incalculable advanta- ges to the Highlands of Scotland, I shall first observe on the subject of prejudice against the Merino breed, that although it is many years since they were first introduced into some of the lower parts of Scot- land, it happened unfortunately that they were placed on such unwhole- some pastures in some instances, and so improperly cared for in others, that it became universally believed that this breed was so peculiarly liable to foot rot and other diseases, as to render it altogether unfit for Scotland. From some unsuccessful trials in Perth-shire, I was, among many others, misled into the same opinions, and thought it was a breed so extremely delicate, degenerating besides in carcase and wool in our climate, as to be undeserving of any attention except from theorists and agricultural speculators, who might choose to write or speak on such subjects. How muclt I have had just cause for a complete change of sentiment in those respects will now ap- pear. In the year 1804 I became a practical farmer, and possessed of a large flock of the Linton or black-faced, about 3,000 in number. I was soon struck with the great difference in price which was given by Mr. Baird, the wool-dealer, for what was produced from some of the white-faced stocks in your county (less numerous) and my own stock. While he assured me my pastures were as capable of rearing D 26 the Cheviot or best woolled breeds, as any other grounds where they actualiv succeeded in the Highlands. I then resolved on a gradual but toUl change from the black-faced breed, by means of crossing it with Cheviot rams, and breeding also from Cheviot ewes on the same pasture, in order to make a comparative trial of their hardiness. At this time, however, I was called to England on my professional du- ties ; and happening to be in London when his Majesty's first sale of Merinos took place at Kew, I was prevailed upon by a military friend who had been in Spain to attend the sale, and promise him to purchase a ram and ewe for trial, at all events, which I did ; and having sent them bv sea to Scotland, with some of the Southdown breed, I found next year, (1805,) that although no particular care had been taken of the Verinos, their fleeces averaged 1 1-2 lbs. beyond the weight stated by Sir Joseph Banks at the sale, that they had formerly yield- ed ; and that year I also received 3s. more per lb. for their wool than what the Southdowns produced. These favourable circumstances determined me at once to give them a more extensive trial ; and at the next year's sale, one of the best and highest priced shear rams was purchased on my account at Kew. He, likewise with 7 South- down rams of the Duke of Bedford's breed, arrived at Lude in safety in September, 1805. My distribution that year was, first, to put the Merino rams to the Spanish, Southdown and Cheviot ewes, about 80; and, secondly, the Southdown and best Cheviot rams I could procure, to the Linton ewes, about 800 in number. The Leicester or Bakewell breed, about 30, were by themselves. Although the second part of this plan was far from meeting with approbation from the sticklers for the Linton breed, who pronounced confidently that their cross must prove soft and degenerate, it will be found in the sequel of this letter to have exceeded my most sanguine expectations of success. Notwithstanding the uncommon severity of the spring of 1806, by which great numbers of the lambs perished at dropping time ; and, with other accidents included, their numbers stood then, on the 26th July, From Merino rams with Spanish, Southdown, and Cheviot ewes, 76 alive ; of do. 6th April, 1807, 59 hogs, loss, 17. Lambs from Southdown and Cheviot rams with Linton ewes, at the above period, 590. As hogs 6th April, 510, loss, 80. Ditto from Bakewell ewes, 26, as hogs, 17, loss, 9. Total number as lambs, 692, as hogs, 586, of loss, 106. By which account it appears, that during the autumn, winter and spring, of the proportions in loss, the Spanish cross was about 4 1-2 in the score, the Southdown and Cheviot 2 3-4, and the Q7 Leicester 7 1-4. The Spanish Southdown and Cheviot crosses met with exactly the same treatment, pasturing promiscuously on the same grounds during the whole period, in which a loss of 97 lambs was sustained on the high pastures, while the Leicesters were kept below ; since when to the present time, hardly any further loss has happened among them. The same disease, braxy, in England called redwater, except in very few instances, occasioned the above loss of lambs and hogs, both upon the open pastures and within the enclosures. No other part of my stock, in the same period, lost above one in 100, and although the hof;s suffered so much by braxy, I am informed, this loss on the whole* was not in proportion so great as in any of the neighbouring stocks. This disease consequently requires the most serious atten- tion, as occasioning one of the greatest drawbacks on sheep farming in the Highlands of Scotland. I shall, therefore, before proceeding further in the partictdar trial of the Merinos, state what occurs to me on the causes and cure of a disease, which appears to be general, and affects them in common with every other species of young sheep, which are now left constantly in the field, in place of being housed at night, as formerly. In my plan of cure for braxy is comprehended an extensive system of agricultural improvement, which I shall also take this opportunity of stating. It is generally supposed, and I think with every degree of probability, that this sadden and fatal disorder is occasioned among lambs, hogs, and even gimmers and dinmonts, by some particular grasses rendered extremely astringent by frost. These appear immediately to affect the urinary ducts of the fattest lambs, occasioning srranguary, and consequent mortification. This happening among the young sheep only, while the same herbage oc- casions no injury to the sheep of a more advanced age, we may con- clude that the latter escape by means of their stronger powers of di- gestion and secretion. Indeed, the above hypothesis may be said to be fully proved by the constant instances we have of those different ages of sheep pasturing promiscuously every day in the year, and the young ones only are car- ried ofl by braxy. Different plans of prevention have been resorted to, particularly shifting the young stock from one pasture to another, when they begin to die ; also putting them on turnip or clover for a short while in the day, which remedies have checked the disorder. As we may thus fairly conclude that the disease originates from too astringent food, rendered noxious previous to the sun's exhalation nf the frosty particles, the readiest antidote must certainly be found 28 in an application of vegetables of a loosening and diuretic tendency, and which are not subject to any noxious conversion of their proper- ties by the influence of frost. Impressed with this idea, and in sum- mer 1805 reflecting on the difficulty of supplying so large a flock of hogs with a sufficient quantity of green crop to save them from braxy, •specially when the winter pastures are at a distance from situations where such could be procured, it occurred to me, in looking over these winter pastures, that large tracts of them had in former ages been arable land, and as appears (by the regularity and form of the ridges) at some unknown period when husbandry was better under- stood than it now generally is in the Highlands. I thought these grounds might by a short process be again restored to their former fertility, and in the process save my young stock frem perishing. In execution of this idea, the stout heath was burnt, and what from con- stant paring had left for ages an unproductive surface, was laid be- low by the plough, which re-produced a fine black mould to light. This land was last summer cross-ploughed, I believe to the extent of thirty acres, marl laid on, winter tare, rape, rye, and turnip seed •own, which, I am informed, have a tolerable appearance. As much m«re ground of the same sort as the plbugh can accomplish from other works has since been turned up to receive the winter frosts, and marl and green crops shall next year succeed, so that a constant succession of saving food will thus be obtained for the hogs, and a permanent subject of great value produced to the country, from a caput mortuum. In case it is thought next spring, that the land which is now in green crop to be pastured off by the hogs, is not capable of producing a good white crop of oats or barley, it will then be put un- der a regular crop of potatoes or turnips with dung, which manure is obtained, besides what can be spared from my arable farm, by driving what belongs to cotters, who get their potatoe, &c. by that means rent free. Whichever year this white crop may be sown with permanent grasses and reaped, it is calculated to pay the whole ex- penses of labour, seed, marl, and dung, expended during the three or four preceding years. But this process coming more properly under the head of experimental agriculture, I should not have men- tioned it here, only as far as I consider it to be connected with the rearing and security of the young Merino flock, which both in the present and future years will be very materially benefited thereby. The next trial or circumstance of comparative hardness in each race, to that of numbers sold in the score, was that of actual condition ia the month of March last; when it was represented to me the Me- 29 rino cross appeared in lower condition than the others. I thought this notion arose from the closeness of the wool, making the carcase appear more distinctly than in the other breeds. To ascertain this fact, I directed an account of their average weight to be sent to me, which stands as follows : at the same time their sizes and weight are to be considered according to the supposed weight of their respective sires and dams aftermentioned. Supposing then all the rams of different sorts to be about the same weight, 14 lb. per quarter, from whence the gross number of lambs proceeded, the ewes are supposed to have differed nearly as follows : Southdown 12 lb. Linton 10 lb. and Cheviot 8 lb. per quarter. On the 28th March last, hogs of the Spanish and Southdown cross weighed 14 stones ; hogs, Southdown and Cheviot rams with Linton ewes, first cross, 3 stones 1 1-2 lb. Spanish rams and Cheviot ewes, first cross, 2 stone 12 lb. which shows that the weight of the latter increased most. Their dams being 8 lb. lighter, themselves only 3 1-2 lb. lighter than the Linton cross. From the above period, 28th March, all the hogs were shifted to a better pasture, the braxy ap- peared no more, and they continued to mend in condition every day, until we came to the next process concerning them, as to the weight and price of their wool, on an average per fleece, &c. which took place in July last, 1807. Unfortunately for the encouragement of wool growers, that article fell very much in price this year. Mr. Baird, however, gave as formerly 5s. per lb. for the pure Merino. He receives 24 lb. to the stone. In four Merino fleeces there were 26 lb. which were considered as a stone, make 61.10s. per stone—12s. 6d. per fleece—5s. per lb. Merino rams, with Southdown and Cheviot, laid or smeared hogs, yielding 5 1-2 fleeces to the stone, 21. 7s. 3d. per fleece—Is. 8d. per lb. The pure Southdown white wool unsmeared, same price as above. Hogs of the first cross of Southdown ami Cheviot rams, with Lin- ton ewes, took 8 1-2 fleeces, smeared per stone 14s. 6d.—Is. 81-2d. per fleece—7 l-4d. per lb. The Linton white wool washed according to common custom, fhs same. The wool of the common country breed unwashed, took on an average 10 fleeces for a stone, 8s.=9 l-2d.=4d. per lb. Here occurs a great instance of comparative advantage in the Spanish over the Cheviot and Southdown crosses of the same year, in their respective weight of fleeces, and amount of price, with the produce of the Lin- ten ewes, although crossed by rams so superior to their own breed. 30 This difference is at the present time more clearly shown by what was at the same period received by the tenants of the common coun- try stocks of ramnoch, &c. where I am informed that although un- washed, it required on an average ten fleeces to make out the stone, for which allowing 8s. (being above the average price) makes the fleece 9 1 2d. and the lb. 4d. as in the above table. My professional duties this year still requiring a longer absence from home, than proper attention to so large a farm demanded, I in the month of July last let off very advantageously the greatest portion of hill-ground belonging to my farm, and I intend in the ensuing year to sell off the whole of the black faced sort, and these crosses after- wards, with every other breed of sheep on the farm, which has not an admixture of the Spanish ; and for them I still retain sufficient sum- mer and winter pasture for maintaining a large number. On this subject I was happy to receive a letter in August last, from my South- country shepherd, who has become a convert in favour of, after being before a most decided opponent to the introduction of the Merino breed. He, in common with all other persons who were reckoned to have skill in the neighbourhood, deprecated their extension as a flock. As I consider him, however, an excellent judge of sheep in gener- al, I read with much satisfaction that part of his letter requesting an addition of Merino ewes, adding, "I shall no more be against the Spanish sheep, for I am sure they will do very well on low grounds, and shall be the most profitable stock that ever came into this coun- try," &c. And why not on the high grounds likewise ? My experi- ments have already ascertained that their lambs of the first clip throve, as well last year and this year, as to hardiness and points of condition, on some of the Highland mountain pastures in Scotland, as any other breed of sheep has actually done in common with them.— And therefore I think we may safely conclude, that the pure breed, when bred there, will answer equally well with the first, or any future clip, or admixture ; because it fs known from experience, that in the summer months, the Leicester lambs even, or any breed requiring the richest pasture, will thrive very well on high grounds, without di- minution of carcase. Our proportion of summer pasture so far ex- ceeding the winter in all'partsof the interior Highlands, it becomes an object of the greatest magnitude in sheep farming, to ameliorate the winter pastures, in order to maintain equal number with the sum- mering. This shews the necessity of pursuing the plan of improving the intermediate hills, in the manner above described, as to producing green crops for the young stock. With respect to their produce be- 3] coming more hardy, and to yield a finer staple of wool than the ori- ginal stock which we have already introduced, I am sure that we shall, by perseverance, be convinced of both facts, for the following reasons : first, it is known that nature assimulates gradually all ani- mals to withstand the degrees of heat and cold, in the different re- gions they are destined to inhabit. This operation is particularly observable in sheep. For instance, if you carry any sort of sheep to America or the West Indies from Britain, the wool will degenerate in every generation, whatever attention is paid.* But continue to breed from the best or worst wooled sheep of any race imported to the British Islands, and with proper care, their staple is found con- stantly to improve. Secondly, as sheep obtain their closest and fi- nest piles, during the winter months, the coldest climate, with whole- some and plentiful pastures, will consequently produce the finest wools. The old Scots white-faced breed, and what is still called the Shetland, are instances of this fact, although these animals, kept in small and irregular flocks, have met with great neglect and bad treat- ment. But their smallness of carcase has been, and is likely to con- tinue much against their further propagation. Thirdly, as to the fineness of the Merino wool being peculiar to the warm climate of Spain, there can be no greater mistake, as it is only in winter, as here, that the Spanish flocks leave their mountain pastures, from the ne- cessity of obtaining food where it can be found on lower grounds ; and it is now proved by his Majesty's stock, the Bath Agricultural Society, Lord Somerville, and various other, breeders of the Merino race,'that their wool has already arrived at greater perfection in Eng- land, and in New South Wales, even to produce a higher price than what is actually imported from Spain. And, fourthly, I have found, by three winters' experience, that the Merino fleeces have weighed about a sixth more than they did when in his Majesty's flock ; that being kept constantly out, they are more hardy than goats in resist- ing the severities of the weather in wet or cold, although in this cli- mate goats acquire a much closer and longer pile than the same spe- pies are furnished with when more to the southward, and that con- sequently, there is every reason to believe, when the Merino breed become natives, and brought up to every severity of the climate from lambs, they will prove, more hardy than the Linton breed, which, like * Though this be generally believed, no regular experiments have been ,v.ade to ascertain the fact. 3> the goat, has a great proportion of hair in their covering, admitting the rain and sleet without much resistance into their skins, thereby in bad seasons becoming subject to rot and other disorders. I shall now state the actual number and disposal of my Merino flock for this season, since a very considerable addition has been made to it; and also what increase I expect from it next year. Tue hogs of the Spanish cross on Southdown, Cheviot, and Leices- ter ewes, amount in all to 71, which are in very good order, hardly m:y lost by braxy, and were treated exactly as the same kinds were last year, except that as lambs, they were kept to the month of No- vember, on still higher grounds than their predecessors. But what has occasioned the greatest increase, and prospect of extended suc- cess in thepure breed, proceeds from a lot of 85 Merino ewes, and two rams, which I was fortunate enough to get safely home on the first of October last, out of 100 ewes, and the above two rams which I purchased last September, in Gloucestershire ; and notwithstand- ing a long drive from that country' to London, from thence an uncom- fortable passage to Dundee, and consequent drive to Lude, they have been mending every day since their arrival, and are now reported to be in such good condition, as to be perfectly proof against the seve- rities of the winter and approaching spring. With them the two for- mer Merino rams have been put ; the two rams which accompanied them were put to the Spanish, Southdown, and Cheviot 1st and 2d cross gimmers, together with the Southdown and Cheviot ewes, about 80 In all. And 27 of the shear rams of the Spanish, Southdown and Cheviot 1st cross were put to 470 of the ewes and gimmers of the Southdown and Cheviot 1st cross or Linton ewes. Thus in the ensu- ing month of July 1808, 1 expect to have weaned from the above de- scription of ewes about 220 of the 1st class of wool; 120 of the 2d, including 1st cross on the Southdown and Cheviot ewes, and 440 of the 3d class, making in all for clip 1809, about 780 sheep of Merino pure, and Merino admixture. My sales may then commence of young rams and ewes, the hardiness of which will make them answer en any wholesome pasture whatever. In the ensuing year the whole of the other crosses and black-faced ewes will be sold according to particular advertisements which are to be made of them ; on which occasions farmers and sheep breeders will have full opportunities on the spot, of examining critically the whole system of management which I have detailed in this letter, and of comparing the nature of the soil and pasture with their own. After all that has been said, I am sorry to think t'.at from the set- 33 tied prejudices which ever encounter in their commencement all pro- jects which go to such changes as are here proposed, we can have but feeble hopes of obtaining much attention for a length of time. Be- ing however so much convinced that this breed will be the most pro- fitable that ever came into the country, I should fail certainly in a public and private duty, if I did not continue to strive under every difficulty which may occur, and persevere in these experiments. The efforts of individuals far detached, cannot influence rapidly on a wide extended plain, which has not varied much these last twenty'years, in the general breeding of Linton sheep throughout Scotland. In at- tempting this change of sentiment and practice, as to the introduction of another race, we are to look forward for the continued exertions of the National Agricultural Board, of the Highland Societies, and of such patriotic characters as Lord Somerville, Sir John Sinclair, and Dr. Parry, who will no doubt continue both by their example and writings, to open the minds of the community to a comprehension of this grea* channel of national wealth : so that before long, his Ma- jesty's paternal intentions of diffusing so great a benefit generally among his subjects, may have their full effect. As this letter has already extended far beyond the bounds I had laid down with respect to the Merinos at Lude, I shall not now pro- ceed to further descriptions of their success in other quarters, which I have lately heard of. But in the mean time, wishing you every fa- cility in accomplishing your patriotic intentions, I shall beg leave te subscribe myself, with much regard, Dear Sir, Your most obedient and humble Servant, W. ROBERTSON. E SOME CIRCUMSTANCES RELATIVE TO MERINO SHEEP, CHIEFLY COLLECTED FHOM THE SPANISH SHEPHERDS WHO ATTENDED THOSE OF THE FLOCK OF PAULAR, Lately presented to his Majesty by the Government of Spain ; with par- ticulars respecting* that great national acquisition, and also respecting the Sheep ofthe flock ofNegrete, imported from Spain by his Majesty in the year 1791. From communications to the Board of Agriculture. Soho Square, lBth February, 1809. Sir John, At a time like the present, when Spanish wools, though at a price unheard of in the annals of traffic, still continue to find a mar- ket, thus clearly proving, that their value in the estimation of the consumer is far above any price that has been hitherto offered for them by the manufacturer, and when we must all agree that the in- terruption of our trade with Spain may still continue for some time longer, I trust that a paper written with a view to facilitate the pro- duction of this valuable article in the United Kingdom, and to com- municate Some information relative to the important present of Me- rino sheep lately received by our most gracious Sovereign from the Government of Spain, will be interesting to you, Sir, I beg the favour of you, in case you shall approve it, to do me the honour of placing it 35 at the disposal of the very useful institution over which you preside, with so much advantage to the agricultural interests of this country. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient and faithful humble servant, JOSEPH BANKS Sir John Sinclair, Bart. President of the Board of Agriculture. Some circumstances relative to Mcr~"> Sheep, chiefly collected from the Spanish Shepherds who attended those of the flock of Paular, lately presented to his Majesty by the Government of Spain, -with particulars respecting that great national acquisition, and also respecting the Sheep ofthe flock ofNegrete, imported from Spain by his Majesty, in the year 1791. A considerable part of Estremadura, Leon, and the neighbouring provinces of Spain, is appropriated to the maintenance of the Merino flocks, called by the Spaniards Trashumantes, as are also broad green roads, leading from one province to the other, and extensive resting places, where the sheep are baited on the road. So careful is the police of the country to preserve them, during their journies, from all hazard of disturbance or interruption, that no person, not even a foot passenger, is suffered to travel upon these roads while, the sheep are in motion, unless he belongs to the flocks. The country on winch the sheep are depastured, both in the southern and the northern parts, is set out into divisions, separated from each other by land-marks only, without any kind offences ; each of these is called a Dehesa, and is of a size capable of maintaining a flock of about a thousand sheep, a greater number, of course, in the south country, where the lambs are reared, and fewer in the north country, where the sheep arrive after the flock has been culled- Every proprietor must possess as many of these in each province as will maintain his flock. In the temperate season of winter and spring, the flocks remain in Estremadura, and there the ewes bring forth their lambs in December. As soon as the increasing heats of April and May have scorched up the grass, and rendered the pas- 86 turage scanty, they commence their march towards the mountains of Leon, and after having been shorn on the road, at vast establishments called Esquileos, erected for that purpose, pass the summer in the elevated country, which supplies them with abundance of rich grass, and they do not leave the mountains till the frosts of September begin to damage the herbage. A flock in the aggregate is called a Cavana ; this is divided into as many subdivisions as there are thousands of sheep belonging to it; each sheep, besides being sear-marked in the face with a hot iron when young, is branded after every shearing, with a broad pitch brand, generally of the first letter of the name of the proprietor, and each subdivision is distinguished from the rest by the part of the sheep's body on which this mark is placed. By the laws of the Mesta, each Cavana must be governed by an of- ficer called Mayoral ; for each subdivision of a thousand sheep, five shepherds and four dogs are appointed. Some of these inferior shep- herds obtain the office of Rabadan, the duty of which is to give a gen- eral superintendance under the control of the Mayoral, also to pre- scribe and administer medicines to the sick sheep. At the time of travelling, and when the ewes are )'eaning, one or two extra shep- herds are allowed for each thousand sheep. 1 The number of Merino sheep in Spain, is estimated by Burgoyne at 6,000,000 ; these of course must be attended by 30,000 shepherds, and 24,000 dogs at ordinary times, and they find occasional employ- ment for 5 or } 0,000 additional persons in the seasons of lambing and of travelling. In theirjourney, each subdivision is attended by its own shepherds and dogs, and kept separate as far as may be from all others. The duty of the dogs is to chase the wolves, who are always on the watch when the sheep are upon the road, and are more wily than our foxes j they are taught also, when a sick sheep lags behind unobserved by the shepherds, to stay with and defend it, till some one returns back in search of it. There are besides in each subdivision about six tame we- thers, called Mansos ; these wear bells, and are obedient to the voice of the shepherds, who frequently give them small pieces of bread ; some of the shepherds lead, the Mansos are always near them, and this disposes the flock to follow. Every sheep is well acquainted with the situation of the Dehesa to which its subdivision belongs, and will at the end of the journey go straight to it, without the guidance of the shepherds ; here the flock grazes all the day under the eyes of the attendants ; when the 37 evening comes on, the sheep are collected togetlier, and they soon lie down to rest; the shepherds and their dogs then lie down on the ground round the flock, and sleep, as they term it, under the stars, or in huts that afford little shelter from inclement weather ; and this is their custom all the year, except that each is allowed, in his turn, an absence of about a month, which he spends with his family ; and it is remarkable, that the families of these shepherds reside entirely in Leon. The shepherds who came with his Majesty's flock, were questioned on the subject of giving salt to their sheep; they declared that this is only done in the hottest season of the year, when the sheep are on the mountains ; that in September it is left off; and that they dare not give salt to ewes forward with lamb, being of opinion that it causes abortion. It is scarcely credible, though it appears on the best authority to be true, that under the operation of the laws of the Mesta, which confide the care of the sheep to the management of their shepherds, without admitting any interference on the part of the proprietor, no profit of the flock comes to the hands of the owner, except what is derived from the wool; the carcases of the culled sheep are consu-. medby the shepherds,* and it does not appear that any account is rendered by them to their employers, of the value of the skins, the tallow &c.; the profit derived by a proprietor from a flock, is esti- mated on an average at about one shilling a head, and the produce of a capital vested in a flock is said to fluctuate between five and ten per cent. The sheep are always low kept. It is the business of each May- oral, to increase his flock to as large a number as the land allotted to it can possibly maintain ; when it has arrived at that pitch, all fur- ther increase is useless, as there is no sale for these sheep, unless some neighbouring flock has been reduced by mortality below its pro- per number ; the most of the lambs are therefore every year killed as soon as they are yeaned, and each of those preserved is made to suck two or three ewes ; the shepherds say, that the wool of an ewe that brings up her lamb without assistance, is reduced in its value. At shearing time the shepherds, shearers, washers, and a multi- * The shepherds on discovering the drift of the questions put to them on lids head, said that in settling tlie ranges of the shearers and washers, at the Esqui/eos, allowance is made for the mutton with which they are fed. 38 tude of unnecessary attendants, are fed upon the flesh of the culled sheep ; and it seems lhat the consumption occasioned by this season of feasting, is sufficient to devour the whole of the sheep that are draughted from «he flock. Mutton in Spain is not a favourite food; it is not in that country prepared for the palate as it is in this ; we have our iamb-fairs, our hog-fairs, our shearling-fairs, our fairs for culls, and our markets for fat sheep, where the mutton, having pass- ed through these different stages of preparation, each under the care of men, whose soil and whose skill is best suited to the part they have been taught by their interest to assign to themselves, is offered for sale, and if fat and good, it seldom fails to command a price by the pound, from 5 to 10 per cent, dearer than that of beef. In Spain they have no such sheep-fairs calculated to subdivide the education of each animal, by making it pass through many hands, as works of art do in a manufacturing concern, and they have not any fat sheep markets that at all resemble ours ; the low state of grazing of Spain ought not therefore to be wondered at, nor the poverty of the Spanish farmers ; they till a soil sufficiently productive by nature, but are robbed of the reward due to the occupier, by the want of an advan- tageous market for their produce, and the benefit of an extensive con- sumption ; till the manufacturing and mercantile parts of a commu- nity become opulent enough to pay liberal prices, the agricultural part of it cannot grow rich by selling. That the sole purpose of the journeys taken annually by these sheep, is to seek food in places where it can be found, and that these migrations would not be undertaken, if either in the northern or the southern provinces, a sufficiency of good pasture could be obtained during the whole year, appears a matter of certainty. That change of pasture has no effect upon their wool, is clear, from all the expe- riments tried in other countries, and in Spain also, for Burgoyne tells us, that there are stationary flocks, both in Leon and Estremadura, which produce wool quite as fine as that of the Trashumantes. The sheep lately presented to his Majesty are of the Cavana of Paular, one of the very finest in point of pile, and esteemed also above all others for the beauty of carcase. In both these opinions, Mr. Lastej rie, a French writer on sheep, who lived many years in Spain, and paid a diligent attention to the Merino sheep, entirely agrees ; he also tells us, that the Cavana of Negrete, from whence the sheep imported by his Majesty, in the year 1791, were selected, is not only one of the finest piles, but produces also the largest carcased ■sheep of all the Merinos. Mr. Burgoyne agrees with him in assert- m mg, that the piles of Paular, Negrete, and Escurial, have been with- held from exportation, and retained for the royal manufactory of Guadalaxora, ever since it was first established. The Cavana of Paular consists of 36,000 sheep ; it originally be- longed to the rich Carthusian Monastery of that name, near Segovia; soon after the Prince of Peace rose into power, he purchased the flock from the Monks, with the land belonging to it, both in Estre- madura and in Leon, at a priqe equal to twenty French francs a head, 16s. 8d. English. All the sheep lately arrived are marked with a large M. the mark of Don Manuel. The number sent from Spain to the King was 2000, equal to two subdivisions of the original Cavana; to make the present the more valuable, these were selected by the shepherds from eight subdivi- sions, in order to choose young, well shaped, and fine woolled ani- mals. This fact is evident, from the marks which are placed on eight different parts of the bodies of the sheep now at Kew. The whole number embarked was 2,214 ,- of these, 214 were pre- sented by the Spaniards, to some of his Majesty's Ministers, and 427 died on the journey, either at sea, or on their way from Portsmouth to Kew, His Majesty was graciously pleased to take upon himself the whole of the loss, which reduced the royal flock to 1573 ; several more have since died. As the time of giving the ram in Spain is July, the ewes were full of lamb when they embarked, several of them cast their lambs when the weather was bad at sea, and are rendered so weak and infirm by abortion, that it is much to be feared more will die, notwithstanding the great care taken of them by his Majesty's shepherds. A few have since died of the rot. This disease must have been contracted by halting on some swampy district, in their journey from the mountains to the sea at Gij on, where they were embarked, as one sheep died rotten at Portsmouth; there is every reason however to hope, that the disease will not spread, as the land en which they are now kept has never been subject to its ravages, be- ing of a very light and sandy texture. It is well worthy of observation, that although the Swedes, the Saxons, the Danes, the Prussians, the Austrians, and of late, the French, have, either by the foresight of their governments, or the patriotic exertions of individuals, imported Merino sheep, no nation has hitherto ventured to assert, that they possess the complete and unmixed race of any one Cavana ; this circumstance does not appear to have been attended to any where but in England; though in fact, each Cavana is a separate and distinct breed of sheep, not suffered iO by the Spaniards to mingle with others. The difference in Value ol the wool of different Spanish flocks is very great ; at this time when Spanish wool is unusually dear, the prima piles are worth more than 7s. a pound, and yet the inferior ones scarce reach 5s.* Even the French, attentive as that nation generally is to all things that con- cern the interest of individuals, appear to have overlooked this cir- cumstance, and to have contented themselves with making up the numbers of their importations, without paying any regard to it; they have not at least stated in any one of their publications, that atten- tion was paid to the securing sheep of a prima pile, and keeping the breed of that pile pure and unmixed, after they had obtained it. Our merchants in Spanish wool range the prima piles in the follow- ing order of value, as appears by a statement in the year 1792. Paular. Ncgrete. Muro Patrimonio, and fifteen more not necessary to be enumerated. Mr. Lasteyrie, the French writer on sheep, ranges them not very dif- ferently ; he states them as follows ; but both English and French agree that all the prima piles are nearly equal in fineness of fibre, and consequently in value to the manufacturer. Escurial, called by us Patrimonio. Guadaloupe. Paular. Infantado. Montareo. Negrete, &c. The Danes, he tells us, procured their sheep from the best piles ; but there is no appearance of their having, since they obtained them, kept the flock separate, nor are they at present so remarkable for fine wool as the Saxons, whos wool is now at least as fine as that of Spain is, upon an average ot prima and second rate piles. The Swedes wers the first people who imported the Spanish breed —this good wortt was undertaken and completed by the patriotic exertions of a merchant of the name of Alstromer, in the year 1723. The next who obtained an importation of Merino sheep were the Saxons, who are indebted for the benefits they enjoy from the im- * Since this was -written, Spanish wools have risen to an exorbitant price ; Prima Leonesa is this week rated in the Farmers' Journal at 20*. a pound, and Seville at 13s. 6di 41 provement of their wools to the Prince Xavier, Administrator of the Electorate during the minority of the Elector, and brother-in-law to the King of Spain. The prince obtained a flock of these valuable animals in 1766, and in 1778 an addition to it of 100 rams and 200 ewes. The Dines followed his useful example, as also did both Prussia and Austria. Every one of these countries continue at this moment to profit largely by the improvement these sheep have occasioned in their agricultural concerns. So far from truth is the too common as- sertion that their wool will not continue fine in'any country but Spain, that in the year 1806, when the ports of Spain were closed against us, a very large quantity of fine wool, the produce of German Merino sheep, was imported into this country from Hamburgh, and used by our manufacturers as a substitute for Spanish wool. In truth, some of this wool was so fine that it carried in the British market as high a price as the best Spanish piles were sold for in times of peace and amity. In the year 1787 the king, guided by those patriotic motives which are ever active in his Majesty's mind, gave orders for the importa- tion of Merino sheep for his own use, and for the improvement of British wool; as it was doubtful at that time whether the king of Spain's licence, without which these sheep cannot be embarked at a Spanish port, could be obtained, it was deemed advisable to make the first purchases in the parts of Estremadura, adjoining to Portu- gal, and to ship the sheep for England at Lisbon. The first impor- tation of these valuable animals arrived in March 1788, and a little flock of them was soon after completed; but as these were of va- rious qualities, having been drafted from different Cavanas, his Ma- jesty was pleased to order an application to be made to the king of Spain by Lord Auckland, then his Majesty's minister at. that Court for permission to import some sheep drafted from one of the prima piles. This was obtained, and a little flock, consisting of thirty-six ewes, four rams, and one manso, arrived safe and well at Dover, in 1791. These sheep had made a part of the Cavana called Negrete, one of the three piles restricted from importation, and which is like- wise remarkable for producing the largest carcased sheep that are to be found among the Merino flecks as has been before stated. On the receipt of this treasure, for such it has since proved itself to be, the king, With'his usual prudence and foresight, ordered the whole of the sheep that had been procured by the way of Portugal to be disposed of, which was immediately done, and directed theNe r grete breed to be increased as much as possible, and maintained in Us utmost purity. From that time to the present the opinion of the public, sometimes perhaps two unwary, and at others too cautious, in appreciating the value and adopting the use of novel kinds of sheep, has gradually in- clined to give that preference to the Merinos which is so justly their due. At first it was impossible to find a purchaser willing to give even a moderate price either for the sheep or for their wool; the shape of the sheep did not please the graziers, and the wool sta- plers were utterly unable to judge of the merit of the wool, it being an article so many times finer and more valuable than any thing of the kind that had ever before passed through their hands. The butchers, however, were less timorous ; they readily offered for the sheep, when fat, a fair mutt«n price ; and there are two instances in which when the fat stock agreed for was exhausted, the butcher who had bought them, anxiously inquired for more, because he said the mutton was so very much approved of by his best customers. It was not however till the year 1804, thirteen years after their first introduction, that it was deemed practicable to sell them by auc- tion, the only certain means of placing animals in the hands of those v. ho set the highest value upon them, and are consequently the most likely to take proper care of them. The attempt however succeed- ed, and the prices given demonstrated, that some at least of his Ma- jesty's, subjects had at that time learned to put a due value on the benefit his royal patriotism offered to them. One of the rams sold at the first sale for 42 guineas, and two of the ewes for 11 guineas each ; die average price at which the rams sold was 191. 4s. and that of the ewes 81. 15s. 6d. each. This most useful moue of distribution has since that time been an- nually continued, and the sales have taken place in the beginning of August. The last sale was held on the 17th of August, 1808, when the highest price given for a ram was 741. Us. for an ewe 381. 17s. The average prices of rams was 331.10s. Id. of ewes 231. 12s. 5d.; a most decisive proof not only that the flock had risen very materially in public estimation, but also that the sheep have not in any way de- generated from their original excellence. The wool was at first found to be quite as difficult of sale as the sheep themselves ; manufacturers were therefore employed to make a considerable quantity of it into cloth, which, when finished, was allowed by both woollen drapers and taylors to be quite as good as , loth made of wool imported from Spain. But even this proof would not satisf the scruples of the wool buyers, or induce them to offer a A r sale at Beauly. They were part of the descendants of those, al- ready mentioned, but their wool did not betray the slightest symptom of care ; it was very coarse and hard. Some gentlemen, who did not seem to be acquaiatcd with the method of comparing fleeces, bought these sheep, which I regret, because I fear they will be disappointed on bringing their wool to market. I trust that the disappointment will be attributed to the true cause. Nothing excites prejudice against any proposed improvement so much as failure in experi- ment. , Mr. M'Leod, of Geanies, and myself are crossing the Cheviot breed with Merino rams. One of his rams is a Swedish Merino, and the other from the King's flock. I have now six rams ; one of them I purchased from John Maitland, Esq. M. P.; two from his Majesty ; and the other three were reared on my farm. They were never al- lowed to go even into an open cot for shelter, and they have withstood the most severe weather. Not one of my Merinos has ever been ill in the slightest degree ; and though my ewes are very old, they have yeaned as fine lambs as I could wish for. Mr. M'Leod has not been so fortunate, some of his having died, but all his cross-bred lambs are doing well. I have also a few Southdown ewes, and a considera- ble number of their lambs from Merino tups. The whole are treated in the same manner, and I am happy to have it in my power to say, that persons who are esteemed good judges of live stock acknowledge my flock to be one of the best in the country. When my experiments shall have been a little more extended, I shall communicate my suc- cess to the public. At present, my object is more to multiply the number of my cross-bred sheep, than to be very careful in selection. But, though I have not selected any particular animals for breeding from, I have every prospect of being able to show very good carcases, as soon as the sheep have attained a proper age for being slaugh- tered. I have sold my wool this year (1809) at the undermentioned prices : Southdown, - - - - 42s. per stone, of 24 lbs. Eng, Merino Southdown, 1st cros^s, Cheviot, - - - - Merino Cheviot, 56s. do. 30s. do. 44s. do. Pure Merino, - - ," " 7s. 6d. per lb. Eng. y i n I s. Mei>. Hist. WZ XlO Ml5t5t 1210 c\ fiiflfllil jii .iffl ■&? 7-' ft1*:;' CT'.-jfr'.-WfllJ: