In the cast of Somersetshire the Wiltshire sheep are kept, and in the west the Dorsetshire breed. Besides these, there is a peculiar breed in Exmoor, and a sheep of very small size on the Mendip Hills. The weight of the fleece in this county varies very much ; some not being more than 2 lbs. while others rise to 14 lbs.; the average, perhaps, is about 44- lbs. The stock is light, not more than 10 sheep upon 17 acres ; the number, 500,700 sheep ; the produce about 9400 packs of wool: a small quantity of which is sent into Yorkshire, and the principal part manufactured within the county.
The sheep on the Cotswold Hills have already been noticed. On the hills in the eastern parts of Gloucester shire the Wiltshire breed are kept; in the vale of Glou cester, the same kind as on the Cotswold Hills; and to the west of the Severn the Herefordshire breed. The fleece of the first kind is about 3 lbs.; that procured. from the vale 5 lbs.; and that from the Herefordshire about 2 lb. The whole stock is about 355,000 ; the produce in wool above 5400 packs ; part of which is wrought in Yorkshire, and part in the home manufacto ry. The limits of the western district of short wool are accurately defined by the ocean, the Severn, and the chalky soil, which bounds that river towards the east.
In Herefordshire, another variety of the short-woolled sheep is found, which afford about 2 lbs. of very excel lent wool: they are generally known by the name of Ryeland sheep. In this county, the practice of totting their sheep is very common. The stock kept may be estimated at three sheep, upon four acres ; the number of sheep at 500,000 ; the produce about 4000 packs of wool, which is sent to the clothiers both of the north and the west of England.
Upon one-third of the land in Monmouthshire, a stock of one sheep to five acres is kept, each producing 1-1 lbs. of wool ; on the remainder of the soil there may be three sheep to four acres: the whole number being about 177,600 sheep, which yield 1400 packs.
The sheep of Worcestershire are in general small, though in the vale of Evesharn the fleece weighs nearly 9 lbs. As the county is very tninly stocked, the num ber of sheep cannot be estimated at more than three to four acres; and tile fleece, on an average, may weigh 31 lbs.: the county supporting 334,000, and deriving from them 4800 packs of wool.
A considerable variety of sheep are kept in Shrop• shire, particularly in the southern portion of the county, the farmers of which display great spirit in the improve ment and extension of the best breeds; but the fleeces of this county are in general light, by far the greater number weighing only from 11 lb. to 24. lbs.; in the le
vel country they sometimes weigh 4 lbs.; on the average, the whole may be calculated at 22 tbs. The stock is near ly 17 sheep to SO acres ; the number of sheep 422,000, and the whole quantity of wool 4400 packs. The whole produce is manufactured in Yorkshire.
The greater part of Staffordshire supports short-wool led sheep. Here 21 occupy 150 acres of ground. The fleece weighs about 2 lbs. The total number of sheep is estimated at 183,000; and the packs of wool amount to 1520; the greater part of which is sent into Yorkshire, the remainder being wrought up in the county itself.
In the counties of Warwick, Lincoln, and Leicester, there arc a few sheep bearing short wool kept. In the first mentioned county probably 183,000, producing 2300 packs of wool. In Lincolnshire, principally on the \Voids, and on the drier soils of the heaths of Ancaster and Lincoln, there may be kept of these kinds of sheep 123,600, producing 2800 packs of wool ; the stock being two sheep upon five acres, and the fleece weighing nearly 51. lbs. Short-woolled sheep are found on the forest land of Leicestershire, where the number may perhaps consist of 20,000, and the whole fleeces 290 packs.
On the sandy soil of Nottinghamshire, to the west of the Trent, there is a small breed of sheep, nearly lbs. of fine wool. The inclosed land in the same part of the county contains a heavier stock, the fleece being 4 lbs. Over the whole of Nottinghamshire there may be about 27 sheep on 46 acres. The forest. breed yields about 709 packs, the heavier breed nearly 2120, and the Dishley breed, which is also kept here, 1270.; the whole number of sheep being about 255,200.. Part of the wool of Nottinghamshire is wrought within the county, but by far the largest quantity.is sent into. Yorkshire.
In Derbyshire we meet with a new district of short wool, which extends from the high peak to the borders. of Scotland, and from the moorlands of Yorkshire to the Irish sea. The sheep have black faces and legs : The fleeces are loose and coarse. Other kinds, however, are kept in this county. The average stock is about 21• sheep on 19 acres ; the whole number kept 362,400; the fleece averages 3 lhs.; and the total quantity of wool may be estimated at 4530 packs, the market for which is Yorkshire.