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[Page 6]
The Male was put to the above Hairy Ewes; In their first produce there was a Wonderfull Improvement in the Fleece but the Sheep were not so Large and healthy as I Expected many of them Dying when about One Year Old. I Endeavoured to find out the cause of this Mortality, being equaly anxious to promote an Hardy Breed of Sheep as well as to Improve the Fleece? At this time I Fed the whole of my Sheep in the Woodlands; The Grass was Often very Long and Coarse and also wet either with the Dews or Rain as the Sun could not dry the Ground from the Thickness of the Timber. It Occurred to me that the Sheep feeding through this Long wet Grass in which they were almost covered was partly the Cause of the Mortality Amongst them? At this time nearly the whole Flock appeared Sickly, but the Produce of the Spanish was much worse than the other Common Sheep, from this Circumstance I Inferred that they were more tender and Delicate. I had now about 100 Acres of Land Cleared from Timber and under Different Crops and was Determined when the Crops came off to let this Ground lie Fallow for the Sheep to feed upon Especially in wet Weather and heavy Dews hoping that this would restore the Flock to health and Strength? My Expectation was Verefied [verified] as the Flock Immediately recovered; From that time which was in the Year 1800 to this Period the Flock have been rapidly Improving both in Fleece and Weight of Carcase? In 1800 I had a very fine Male Lamb from a Spanish Ram and Coarse Wool'd Ewe. His Fleece is Marked No. 4. He has now been shorn three times. The Weight of his Fleece the first Year was 3 lb, the Second 4 lb 12 oz, and the Third 6 lb. The Produce of this Male are very fine Sheep with good Wool; The real Spanish Sheep as far as my Own Observation has gone