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Chap. XIV. Apr. No. 3.
Notices regarding the Merino Sheep in Scotland .
The first importation of these sheep into Britain took place inMarch 1788, when his Majesty obtained a small flock by way ofPortugal . In 1791, another and a better variety was procureddirectly from Spain , which laid the foundation of that improve-ment in the quality of British wool, which has of late engagedso much attention in England. In the same year, Sir John Sin-clair , with that patriotic energy by which he has always been soeminently distinguished, procured 10 rams and 5 ewes from theflocks of the King of France , from M. D’Aubenton, for the Bri-tish Wool Society, of which he was the Founder . It was not,however, till 1801, when his Majesty’s annual sales commenced,that these sheep attracted much notice, or were widely spreadover the country. Since that time, many successful experimentshave been made in England, in improving their carcase ; and thefleece of some of the native breeds, has, by means of crossingwith Merino rams, been brought to a degree of fineness very lit-tle if at all inferior to that of the pure Merinos .
The soil and climate of Scotland , and its system of ruraleconomy, so different in many respects from that of England,sufficiently account for the little progress the Merinos havemade in the former country. The first property required inthe sheep stocks of our mountains is a degree of hardiness,which nothing but long experience can warrant us to expectm the natives of a much warmer climate, and of much finerpastures; and at least two-thirds of the surface of Scotland con-sist of such exposed and barren tracts. On the lower grounds,where convertible husbandry almost universally prevails, sheepare not kept in great numbers, and often only for a part of theyear ; a ready supply being always obtained from the highergrounds. When permanent stocks are found profitable on arableland farms, it becomes necessary to choose a quiet and highlydomesticated breed, while fences continue so insufficient as theystill are in several districts. Besides, while the price of wool isever fluctuating according to the state of our foreign relations,that of buteher-meat has been steadily advancing for many yearspast, and at the present time probably gives a better return to thefarmer than even wheat. Unless, therefore, a fine fleece can becombined with a quick-feeding carcase, which, from the greatportion of yolk that seems necessary to the growth of fine wool,does not appear highly probable, it is hardly to be expected thatfhe Merinos or their crosses will soon become a favourite stock onthe arable lands of Scotland .
Ther? are a few intermediate situations, however,, in which U