OP SCOTLAND.

15 1

of fineness, for which the demand is more uniform and ex-tended.

It must be considered, at the same time, that the sheeppastures of Scotland , do not admit of that variety of breeds,which are to be found in the southern division of the island.Neither on the hills, nor on the arable districts of Scotland , doesthere seem to be much room for any considerable numbersof a distinct race. The rigorous climate, and scanty, and, forthe most part, coarse herbage of the former situations, prohi-bit the introduction of any tender and delicate breed, moreespecially if its carcase were greatly inferior to that of the na-tive race; and in the arable districts, which are comparativelyof small extent, convertible husbandry has been long deemedmore profitable than permanent pasture, and will not there-fore admit of any race of sheep, which are not completely do-mesticated, and easily confined.

For these reasons, any attempt to improve the quality ofwool ought to be confined, in the first instance, to the moun-tain breeds, and particularly to the Cheviot; and that by meansof crossing with a finer woolled breed, rather than by a total,or even a partial change of stocks. The breeds which aremost likely to effect this improvement, are the South-downsand the Merinos , both of which were many years since intro-duced into Scotland .

1. “ The Soulh-dmm breed have no horns, grey faces andlegs, fine bones, long small necks, low before, high on,theshoulder, and light in the fore-quarter ; the sides good, lointolerably broad, but the back-bone too high ; the thigh full,and twist good ; very close fine short wool, from 2- r lbs to ;•> lbs.a fleece; sold in 1792 for 2s. per lb.;” (which is much the samens the price has been of late), “ the length of the staple fromt"'o to three inches

Such of these sheep as have been brought into Scotland , arece, ‘tain]y inferior in every respect to the Cheviots, except in

■ CuIIey on Live-Stock, p.