Scouring the Merino wool of Spain to perfect | accompanied by two others, who proceed recleanness, to be at least two-thirds of the original weight of the unwashed fleece.

The wool of the Merino sheep differs from that of all our breeds in being of nearly an equal degree of fineness on the shoulder and on the ramp. It grows more thickly on the

Hatter than on the former.

If these sheep are slower in becoming adult, it is generally agreed that they are much longer-lived than other known races. They sometimes keep their teeth to fourteen or fifteen years of age.

spectively on each flank. Each leader has for his companions one or more Mansos, which are old wethers, or, what is more extraordinary, frequently old castrated goats, each of which is furnished with a large bell about its neck. These bell-wethers being much caressed, become extremely docile; and are very useful in guiding the flocks to which they are attached.

The shepherds are accompanied with dogs; which are large and fierce mastiffs, able to protect the sheep against wolves and rob

hers.

During the winter, the Merino flocks cover the plains of some of the warmest and most Dr. P. has taken pains to correct that fertile provinces of Spain. Such are Valentia, Murcia, Arragon, Castile, La Mancha, An- prejudice in favour of English wool, dalusia, Estremadura, the neighbourhood of which has been transmitted as a kind of Cadiz, &c. The herbage of these countries, proverbial saying, of unquestionable au which had been burnt up during the sum-thority, from father to son, that English mer, begins to re-appear on the first autommal rains; after which it pushes so rapidly, and acquires such a degree of luxuriancy, that the shepherds are often obliged to fold their flocks, which they do by means of nets, in order to prevent their injuring themselves by feeding too hastily. Thus the herbage continues to shoot more or less during the whole winter. But as soon as, from the increasing heat of the sun and the constant consumption, the feed begins to fail, which takes place from the middle of April to the beginning of May, the flocks commence their journey to the mountains of Leon, Castile, Arragon, Navarre, Gallicia, Soria, Segovia, Cuenças, Albarazin, Burgos, the Asturias, &c. The tops of many of these mountains are in the winter covered with snow, but, in the summer, enjoy only refreshing coolness, and are well clothed with short herbage, admirably suited to the animals which they are destined to support. This herbage, according to the author of the Oryctographia et Zoologia Arragoniæ, chiefly consists of Festuca ovina (sheep's fescue), Aira cristata (crested hair-grass), Trifolium repens (white trefoil), and Medicaga lupulina (melilot snail shell).

The beginning of the journey of each flock is in some measure regulated by the distance which it has to travel. Those which go from Estremadura to the Asturias have a march of at least 550 English miles. They proceed towards the mountains at the rate of from 5 to 16 miles a day, according to the pastures which they meet with by the way; and more slowly before than after shearing. A road is left for them, which is held, as it were, sacred, of 80 or 90 varas, or about 75 yards in breadth,

often marked our or bounded by stones.

Each Cavana, or great flock, has a Mavoral, or principal shepherd; and each subdivision of such a flock, which, for convenience of travelling, consists of 1000 or 1500, has its leading shepherd, who goes at its head, and is

wool is superior to that of all the world. If by this is meant that English wool is, or ever was, superior in fineness, the Dr. denies its truth. He even ventures to conclude, that sheep were antiently scarce in Britain-Nay, he says, "There is no positive evidence that sheep existed in ancient times in this island."-This is going very far indeed and even if we should grant that " pecus" the term used by Julius Cæsar, and by Pomponius Mela, to describe the riches of the Britons, means neat cattle as well as sheep, yet we think that the more usual application of the term will justify those who suppose it to denote sheep in the first instance, and most generally. That the Britons wore sheep-skins, we have little reason to doubt: whether they manufactured the wool into cloth, may admit of greater hesitation.

Mr. Pennant, indeed, in his "London," asserts, that "from the Gauls on the continent, the Britons received the first cloth; the dress called the Bracha, a coarse woollen manufacture."-Some light might, perhaps, be thrown on this question by inquiring what materials composed the dresses of the Druids. We know that those in which the chiefs officiated in public ceremonies were long, and they were white: of linen therefore, for the convenience of being washed; in which they agreed with the priestly dresses of many, or most, nations of antiquity. But the every day wear of the ordinary and labouring Bards [Comp. Panorama, Vol. III. p. 354] was not it may be supposed, of so slight a material. Most certainly the coarser woollen garment seems to suit better with their station; and this,

£299,000. The Spaniards, from whom we now receive wool, for a long time, drew great quantities of wool from Eng land, and returned cloth.

The value of English woollen goods for substance and durability, partly occasioned by the properties of the fleece, partly by

not ornamented by being coloured. At least, we find St. Cuthbert, in the days of Christianity, praised for having forbidden the woollen garments of his disciples to be dyed and it is likely enough, that this prohibition was in conformity to the usage of past ages, and of remote times. The garment of St. Alban-the Am-excellence of workmanship, has been long phibolus of the Legend, was a rough, shaggy, cloak and, therefore, we presume of a coarse woollen fabric: nor was it the first of the sort made in Britain. Dr. P. has proved, however, that sheep were not numerous, in proportion, to the neat cattle: in the eighth century, the value of a ewe with her lamb, was one shilling, when the fleece was two-pence: five pence at that time, went to the shilling. In the reign of Athelstan, between 925 and 940, an ox is rated at 30 pence, a cow at 20 pence; a sheep at 5 pence: so that four sheep were equal in value to one cow. In part of the reign of Henry I. a sheep was half the value of an ox; but under Henry II. in 1184, one ox was worth six sheep. The product of wool was now increasing, and it soon became so considerable as to furnish a principal part of the resources of the state.

English wool was sent over sea chiefly to Italy and the Netherlands, to be manufactured: and it was returned to its native country in the shape of cloth. Edward III. was mortified at observing this disadvantageous commerce, and he received with open arms a number of discontented Flemings, who brought with them the arts of preparing and manufacturing cloth. In later times, the importation of foreign cloths was prohibited; and in 1647, the Parliament interdicted the exportation of wool: a law which was finally established soon after the Restoration of 1600.

known and acknowledged, in all parts of the world: but, when the manufacture was desired to be advanced to perfection, in the qualities of fineness, softness, and in many instances silkiness, it was natural that wool so qualified should be procured from wherever it could be obtained. And this was the more necessary, because the farmers in Britain have two objects in view in raising their flocks of sheep. Our nation consumes more animal food than most others. The daily provision of our tables usually comprizes flesh meat, in a greater proportion. than appears on the tables of persons of equal rank in life, in other countries. In hot countries, indivi duals would fall victims to their intemperance, should they indulge themselves in a manner which here is thought modera tion. In cold countries the poverty of the inhabitants places the means of procuring such a constant supply of this species of sustenance, for the most part be yond their ability.

The British farmer, therefore, naturally preferred that species of sheep which was soonest ready for the butcher: whereas, we learn from Dr. P. that very few Merinos are slaughtered and eaten, in Spain: they are bred for the wool, not for the flesh; for the shearing house, not for the shambles. The combination of these two qualities, a growth of fine wool, with a disposition to fatten readily, would form a perfect animal in the judgment of a British farmer. And this could only be hoped for from a mixed breed, derived from individuals of each description: a Spanish fleece on an English constitution.

In 1601, Eliz. 44, according to John Wheeler, Secretary to the Society of Merchant Adventurers, that company exported 60,000 white cloths, worth £600,000 and 40,000 coloured cloths, baizes, and Dr. P. relates the history of the late in kersies, worth £400,000 About 12 or troduction of the Merino breed into Bri14 years afterwards the exportation of un- tain, an instance among many of the padressed and undyed cloths was prohibited: ternal attention of his Majesty to the welhereupon the Dutch and Germans who fare of his subjects: but, the chief value had before completed those processes, reof his communication consists in his own fused to receive these cloths. Hence in remarks as an experimental man, on the 1622, the imports, customs, included, &c. management and conduct of this breed in were £2,619,315, and the exports in-particular. It appears that the Dr, was in cluding charges were £2,320,436, leav-some degree forced on experiments, by ing a balance against England of nearly the nature of the land which was under

fidence. His remarks on the influence of the sexes respectively, on their posterity, we believe to be founded in fact; and his reasons for rejecting over-fatted meat, with his censure on the lazy Leicestershire sheep, appear to be completely valid. We confess, that feeding for fatness alone, as if that were the criterion of merit, has in our opinion done much harm. It is a procedure not analagous to the operations of nature; not conducive to the health of the animal, nor to the health of the party whose table it loads. In this, as in every thing else, there is a bappy medium, on which fancies may differ; yet judgment will endeavour to attain it; and when attained, it will combine more suffrages than any extreme, however fashionable, that may be for a time.

his care. "In the year 1788," says he, "I began to build a country house, to which was attached a small portion of land. This land was high, of a thin staple, dry, unsheltered, and consequently unproductive. Such as it was, however, I was obliged to stock it." Accordingly the Dr. put on it, some cows, and sheep of the Wiltshire race. He soon parted with his cows: and his Wiltshire sheep he exchanged for some of the small breed of Portland. He gradually obtained the benefit of some of his Majesty's Merino rams, that were lent to Lord Bathurst, and his Portland breed gave way to Ryelands, or Herefordshires; and these, crossed with the Merinos, are found to 'yield wool as fine, the Dr. says finer, than that inported from Spain" The supe tior softness and silkiness of the wool of the fourth cross of my Merino-Ryeland breed to that of the pure Negrette from which it was derived, will not admit of any doubt." The Dr. affirms too, that the weight of his fleeces were, many of them at least, superior to the average of Spanish Merinos; and that they lost con-Yet we cannot help wishing that he had, siderably less of the weight in the preparations necessary before they could be woven. He gives the following table in proof of the greater substance of the wool produced from sheep fed on English herbage.

In order to procure 24 lb. of clean wool, there will be required of unwashed wool, In my flock

In that of Lord Somerville, the wool of which wastes

Of wool of Pictet, which wastes 3-5ths Of that of Rambouillet, which wastes full 2-3ds

Of that of the Merino breed in Spain, wasting full 2-3ds

Of that of the mixed French breeds, which wastes 3-5ths

lb.

5

The Dr.'s account of the extent of his farm, (160 acres) of the quantity of feed he makes it produce, of the stock it supports (above 450 sheep, besides horses, &c.) for his farming labours, is not void of interest: and apologizes sufficiently for his non-attempting to fatten his sheep.

by some means, superintended experiments of such a nature, as it would have rendered his communication much more complete, and consequentlymore authoritative and beneficial. For feeding his flock the drum-headed cabbage is a great favourite with our experimentalist, who says, it has never deceived his dependence on it: that his sheep greedily devour it at all times of the year. The soil seems to suit it; and the Dr. has paid great attention to its culotivation, the mauner of which he describes at length. He gives also linseed jelly, of which the sheep become so fond, as to run after the shepherd in droves as soon as he appears with his buckets. Many other

oz.

0

62

7 8

7

6 2

We need say nothing on the superior value of such wool to the grower, to the manufacturer, and to the nation: these facts speak for themselves.

We cannot follow the Dr. through various disquisitions into which he enters on the subjects of form, beauty, ugliness, &c. His detail of the management under which his flock has prospered will be read with interest, by those who desire information; and his observations, being derived from experience, are entitled to con

kinds of food are noticed.

We are obliged to the Dr. for his description of the diseases to which his Me, rinos are subject: and for his frank communication of the remedies he employs to counteract them. Besides these matters, he narrates the effect of those prejudices against which he had to struggle among the buyers of wool; and observes very justly that

cellence and established reputation of their faManufacturers, anxious to preserve the exbrics, cannot be blamed for doubt and caution in the admission of a new material. But when the value of this material becomes generally

known, so that the greatest encouragers of the tance. The Board of Agriculture has breed are now actually clothiers, some of done right in bringing it before the pubwhom profess a determination to keep from 3 lic; and we anticipate extensive advanto 20 thousand of these sheep, and when tages from its publication. We must, some of its chief opposers are men, who, at a however, remark, that much remains to great price, and on mere report, have bought German wool, and now constantly use it in be done, to improve the basis of our matheir manufactures, it may shrewdly be sus-nufacture, as well as the execution of it: pected that the true grounds of objection lie much deeper than they would have us be

lieve.

Spanish wool has, of late, reached an enormous price. This has been owing to various causes connected with the war. The French have certainly taken great pains to monopolize its sale; and it has beeu asserted by the acute and nervous writer of a weekly political journal, that every pound of wool exported from Spain to Great Britain pays a tax to the government of France. Thus are our manufactures converted to the support of our most

inveterate foes.

and that it behoves the workmen as well as the masters, in every branch to counteract the endeavours of our inveterate foe, not by exclamations nor by maledictions, nor even by envying whatever ge nius he may display, or decrying the skill of his operators, (there he is on lawful ground) but, by exerting that skill, care, and dexterity, that attention, that precision, in which it is well known, we are not deficient, thereby convincing all the world, that the reputation which our forefathers earned by their skill, is well sup

their descendants.

These opinions are corroborated by reported by the care and the diligence of cent events: Spain is now neither more We shall take the liberty of extracting nor less than a province of France; and that France will suffer her wools, or any formation they afford may be of prac a few miscellaneous passages, as the inthing else that she even suspects to be betical utility to some of our agricultural neficial to Britain, to reach our blockaded island, can only be expected by absolute imbecility..

It is with real satisfaction, therefore, that we congratulate our country on the acquisition of this valuable race of sheep, before it had been rendered impossible: before the invidious enemy of British commercial importance, had the power to close against us the means of improving the wool of our flocks. Had the measure been left till now, we might have cast many an anxious look, and have heaved many a mournful sigh, in vain. We should have seen the French drapery rise to reputation, perhaps to popularity, under the revival of those regulations that once were its support and protection. (Compare Panorama, Vol. II. p. 390.). We should have seen all supplies from Germany cut off, and nothing offered to compensate the deficiency. We should have seen ourselves reduced to our own resources, which though they be, happily for us, of a staple and lasting description, yet may suffer by comparison with what fashion determines shall be in vogue, and while in vogue the partizans of fashion will incessantly, and impudently describe

as beautiful.

Our readers will perceive that we have thought this communication of impor

readers.

It is related as a curious fact, established by M. Twent, from the observation of twelve years, that the leaves of the alder are particularly relished by the sheep in rainy weather; and as, when eating this food during such weather, they escape the rot, though feeding on the most marshy soils, it is inferred that their preservation is owing to this cause."

To cure the foot rot.

Pare off, with a sharp knife, so as not to make the part bleed, all the spongy and decayed parts of the hoof and frog, and, rub into the affected parts, every other day, a little of a mixture of equal quantities of powdered sulphate and acetite of copper, (blue vitriol and verdigrease) mixed up with crab verjuice to the consistence of a pulp. generally disappear in from two to four dres and hard ground, or boards, so as not to rub of sings, especially if the sheep be kept on dry wash out the applications to the feet.

The disorder will

The cure of the scab is more difficult in the Merino and its crosses than in our native breeds, probably on account of the greater delicacy of the skin, and the thickness and im perviousness of the fleece.

In Bristol they sell a cheap liquid, under the title of Scab water, which is a preuy strong infusion or decoction of the stalks and waste leaves of the tobacco, in sea water; in this, if a quarter of a pint of essential oil of what proportions I know not. To a pint of turpentine be added, in a bottle stopped with a

perforated cork, and the scab be gently scraped off, especially round its edges, with a blunt steel or ivory knife, or even with the nail, so as, if possible, not to draw blood, and a little of the liquid, well shaken, be poured through the hole in the cork on the diseased spot, the animal will be cured in a few days.

Ten rams of different ages, from 4-teeth upwards, purchased of me by Mr. Birkbeck, yielded last year 97 lb. or nearly 94 lb. each, of wool in the yolk; and, of these, two gave 11 lb. 15 oz. each, and one, which had the finest fleece, 12 lb. This weight, which I believe considerably exceeds that of any pure Merino fleece ever produced in England, and -which fully equals in clean wool that of the boasted fleeces of France, was, doubtless, owing to due care and good keep.

short, was a goodnatured woman, although not a matron; a sociable and conversible companion, although an Old Maid.

Her presence, says Mr. P.) speaking of her early days), never threw a damp over the juvenile amusements and gaieties of her young friends. She brought with her into company no ill-timed morality, or misplaced gravity; but danced, sung, played cards, and laughed, like any other young girl. He adds, in a note: "However, it was only innocent gaiety that she ever countenanced; and the strictness of her principles was soon well known. She went once to a puppet-shew at Deal, with some respectable friends, and Punch was uncommonly dull and serious, who was usually more jocose than delicate. "Why, Punch," says the Showinan, "what makes you so stupid?"-"I can't talk my own talk, answered Punch; the famous Miss Carter is here."

No further testimony, we presume, is of this lady's manners: the person who necessary to demonstrate the correctness could controul the facetice of Punch in a sea port town, must have had uncommon powers of presence, and must have acquired them honourably. Mrs C, was eyen so cautious, as to be in every period of her life so averse to all kinds of deceit and falsehood, that it might well be said of

ne quidem joco mentiretur;"—and yet the rumour at Deal, of her intention to put up for Member of Parliament, might have been countenanced, with more gravity than compunction, by critics themselves.

Memoirs of the Life of Mrs. Elizabeth Carter; with a new Edition of her Poems, some of which have never appeared before; to which are added some Miscellaneous Essays in Prose, together with her Notes on the Bible. By the Rev. Montagu Pennington, M. A. Quarto, pp. 643, price £2. 2s. Rivingtons, London, 1897. A corps of Reviewers, which did not comprise a representative of the state of celibacy, by the vulgar denominated an Old Batchelor, might justly be deemed in-her, as it was of the virtuous Theban, “Ut complete; and yet we know not how it is, but so it is, that when this member of our corps enlarges on the comforts and happiness of a single life, the rest of the company are found to be wonderfully dull of -hearing and understanding. But we must let him triumph on a subject like the present. However public prejudice may attach to the character of an unmarried individual, that kind of insociability, and that degree of stiffness and formality, which from being the effect, afterwards become the cause of celibacy, yet Mrs. Carter appears to have been constantly free from such indications of her condition, and to have been chearful and facetious, easy and polite. She was learned, and could correspond with an Archbishop, -on a question of Greek criticism; but her learning was not obtruded at every turn to The volume before us is not only a amaze common auditors: she was pious, Life of Mrs. Carter, but a pleasing but her piety did not consist in censuring collection of her sentiments, &c. expressed those whom she suspected of differing at different periods, and on different ocfrom her in this excellent quality; shecasions, to her intimate friends by letter. was loyal, yet could make allowances for In this correspondence, she appears to adthe contrary lights in which public events vantage; and happily she met with comwere beheld by others. Mrs. Carter, in munications in return, that are well wor

We have already given the chief incidents of this lady's life a place in our work (compare Panorama, Vol. I. p. 1382), to which we refer our readers. She appears to us to be, taken in the whole of her character, a rara avis; especially if Mr. Pennington has escaped the bias produced by admiration and gratitude, which infirmity, with all deference to the insistings of our batchelor critic, we conceive to be very possible, and very pardonable, too; considering that Mrs. Carter was his aunt, and that he was under many obligations to her kindness,