Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-08-15

tfom Loudons EncycioP sdia Of agriculture.
SHEEPIN SPAIN

The sheep 10 Spain have long been oelehra.
80. Pliny relttes that in his time Spanish
cloths were OF an pxcell nj texture, and much
,.ed in Rome. For many centuries the wool
has been transported TO Fh,nders. for the sup
ply of the Flemish msuufsci cries, and after
wards 10 England, when the same manuiac-
tlre was introduced iheie. By far the greater
par, of Spanish sheep are migratory, aud be
long TO nat is called ttpr mesIa or AleTno
corporation but there are also stationary
foeks belonging 10 private individuals ia Anda-
lusa, whose wool rs Of equal antness and va.
ne The carcass of the Sheep in Spain is held
IN no estimation, and onIy used by The shepherds
aud the pLor.
The fiecks which form the mests usually con-
sit Of about 10000 sheer. Each hoCk is un-
der the care of "A directing officer, fifty shep-
herds and fifty dogs. The Whole dock COM
losing The mesta, consist Of about five millions
o. sheep, and employ about % OF $4,000 per-
sons, aud nearly as many dogs. The hock
are put in motion the latter end OF April, or
beginning of Nav, ipaving the pains of Estra-
Inadura, Andausia, Leon,O aud New CASTLE,
where they usually winter they repair TO the
mountains OF toe two latter provinces, and those
OF Biscny, Navarro, and Arrdgon. The sheep,
white feeding Oh The mountains, have OCCASION
ally administered 10 them small quantities OF
SAL. II IS laid upon fat stones. 20 which the
qasn ity they please.
In Septe mber the sheep arn ochred, their
hacks and loios being rubbed with red ochre,ar
PUDDLE dissolved in water. This practice is
founded upon an anclent custom, the reason OF
which is mol clearly astertaiDed. Some sup
pose Thai the ochre uniting with the oleaginous
matter Of the fleece, forms kinds OF vsrnish
which defends The animal f ON he inclemenGy
OF the weather. Others think the pondefosiy
49,, 81, aIRu TN
thick and long in The staple. But the more
eligible opinion rs, that the earth a0s1ros The
superintendent perspiration, which would o,
therwise render The WOOL both harsh ano
coarse.
Towards the end of September, the GDcks r.
commence TIER march. Descending from the
mountains, they travel towards tue warmer
part OF the country, and sgain repair 10 the
Plains of Leon, Estramadurd. and Andalusia
The sheep are geaerally conducted 10 the same
P"stuies they had grazed the preceding
year, and where most Of them had been
yeaned-lhere they are kept during the WIN
ter.
Sheep shesrins com mences the beginning oil
May, and is performed while the SHEEP are on
their summer joutney, IN large buildings. lhose
which are placed upon the road age Capable o,
Containing forty, City aud some sixty thousand
ssrep. The shearing is pi eceded W pom.
pous preparation, conducted 10 due forin' sno
'hs intervals considered time oil ieasths
and recreation. One hundred and twenty hVe
mea are usually employ ed TOR shearing tooo.
sand ewes, and two hundred Tor "ousA"s
we.hers. Each sheep affords four kinds OF WOOL
mere or less, according TO the parts OF The AMI
mai whence !, Is taken. The ewes produce
the 6nest Heeess end ths weihsrs The nea'
viest--three we,her fieeces ordinarily weigh
on the average twenty Ave lbs. but II VIII
take s6me1Ne Heecss TO amouot 10 me same
Hsighs.
Tse3qnen<ysBhich ths0ocks make 10 Their
. peregrinssipais regulated by particular laws,
aud inmemayiaI customs. The sheep pass IN
n'olested over III. pas a es belonging TO the WI,
Hges and the commons which LID III their roau
aud hive q right to feed on them. They are
not, however. allowed to pass over cuit"aseo