Page:Natural History (1848).djvu/207

Rh that time forward the production of wool in this island, and the various textile manufactures connected with it, have gone on increasing, until the former amounts to above 100,000,000 of pounds annually, in addition to an import of half as much, principally from Saxony and Australia&#59; while the latter are estimated to support 1,200,000 persons, producing goods to the annual value of 26,155,870l. sterling.

The numerous breeds of Sheep nurtured in this country are distinguished by the comparative length of the fibres which compose their fleece. They are spoken of as short-woolled, middle-woolled, or long-woolled sheep. To the former belong the Anglo-Merino, Saxony, and Australian breeds, whose wool, short, fine, and silky, is used in the manufacture of broad-cloths.

The principal middle-woolled breeds are the South-down, Dorset, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cheviot, most of which were formerly short-woolled, but have been improved by culture. The fleece is used for the coarser cloths, flannels, and similar fabrics.

The Leicester breed, and other races which are now nearly Jost by admixture with it, such as the old Lincolnshire, are long-woolled. The fibre is characterized by strength and transparency, but is deficient in the power of felting, on which the compactness of cloth depends: its length averages about eight inches. It is used for merinos, mousselines de laine, hosiery, &#38;c. The breeds most esteemed for the flavour of their flesh are the Welsh, the South-down, and the Cheviot sheep.