192 State Board of AoRicuLTrRE, &c. 



quarter. We have flocks in tliis State that Avill do even 

 l)etter than tliat. But of the improved mutton slieep that 

 have found most favor in the United States, of the long- 

 wools, are the Leicesters, Cotswolds, and New Oxford- 

 shires. Of the short and middle wools, Sonthdowns, 

 Hampshire Downs, Shropshire Downs, and the Oxford- 

 sliire Downs. 



Of these varieties agriculturists and sheep breeders gene- 

 rally give the Cotswolds and Sonthdowns tlie preference. 



Merino Sheep. — The original importation of sheep into 

 the United States, from England, France, and Spain, in- 

 cluded all of the best varieties. Tlie Saxon and Silesian 

 Merinos are of later importation. History tells us that 

 in Spain, over two hundred years ago, it was a crime pun- 

 ishable with death to allow a Merino sheep to pass its bor- 

 ders for another nation. And the Merinos to which Spain 

 yielded up her title, were those procured by Augustus 

 Frederick, Elector of Saxony, in 1765, which event wa& 

 the beginning of the revolution of the wool trade of the 

 world. After lifty years' l:)reeding of these sheejj, which 

 were of the Escurials, came the Saxon Merinos. The flrst 

 Merino sheep imported into this country M^ere two pairs, 

 sent from France by Ilo1)ert R. Livingston, in 1802. The 

 same year a much larger number was imported l)y CoL 

 David Humphreys, of Connecticut. Wm. R. Jarvis, of 

 Yermont, made importations in 1809, 1810, and 1811, 

 which probal)ly laid the foundation for many of our l>est 

 flocks. And here, in old Vermont, the Merino sheep has 

 found a home, where the Creator has provided all that is 

 necessary to the progress and improvement of this most 



