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the quality of their wool, anil when intermixed with Cheviotson hilly pastures they do not keep in so good condition, norproduce a fleece of greater value. Hence there is no rea-son to believe, that crossing the Cheviots with them wouldbe attended with any advantage. The wool might indeed beimproved in quality, but the quantity would probably be di-minished considerably. They are not sufficiently covered to en-dure the storms of our northern climate, and would seem to bebetter adapted to the dry chalky downs, producing fine her-bage, on which they are kept in their native districts, than tothe alpine regions of Scotland . Besides, if the carcase of theCheviot sheep should be in any degree endangered, it wereprobably better to hazard it for a more valuable fleece, thanany cross with the South-downs could produce.

2. The Merino breed, has already attracted much notice inEngland, and is to be found in several counties of Scotland .The South downs and Cheviots have been crossed with Me-rino rams in several parts of this country, and the latter ap-parently with considerable success. A cross between the Me-rinos and Cheviots has been found to answer well by LordSomerville, General Robertson of Lude in Perthshire, andothers ; and while the wool is greatly improved, the new va-riety is not deficient in hardiness. It seems to be ascertainedbeyond a doubt, that the wool of the pure Merinos does notdegenerate in Scotland . Experiments are now in progress bySir George Stuart Mackenzie, and Mr Macleod of Geaniesin Ross-shire; by General Robertson, by Mr Malcolm Laing in Orkney , and by several other gentlemen; but there has notbeen time to ascertain the results so decisively, as to make itpossible to estimate their success with any degree of preci-sion, though the prospects at present are understood to bevery encouraging.

In those situations where it might not be thought advisableto cross the Cheviot breed with the Merinos , either from afear of deteriorating the form of the Cheviots, or of producinga variety not sufficiently hardy for their pastures, it may de-