of the Vienna Exhibition, 1873. 53 



scarcely calculated to withstand the drying winds, hot sun, and 

 dust of that country. The experiment was made by the late 

 yir. G. B. Smallbones, on his farm at Deutsch-Kreutz, in 1855, 

 but was not successful. As the price of mutton increases, the 

 wool question ceases to be all-important ; and further, taking the 

 whole extent of the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is reason- 

 able to suppose that the Rambouillet, as well as Downs and Cots- 

 wold, may be employed to give weight of carcass and fleece. 



The following instances of first-rate Alerino flocks may be useful 

 ■as indicating the varving weights and value of wool oljtained : — 



Count Franz von Bellegarde, of Gross-Herrlitz, in Austrian 

 -Silesia, showed some incomparably fine-woolled .sheep. The 

 average clips of fine-cloth wool over the entire flock of 599 is 

 2^ to 3 English pounds. Prince Schaumburg-Lippe, Post- 

 Stalitz, Bohemia, exhibited comb-wool Merinos. These sheep 

 are of compact form, and the wool is comparatively long, and 

 not unlike Rambouillet qualitv. The prima wool reaches 5 to 

 7 inches in length, and 14^ English lbs. is said to be the 

 average clip of unwashed wool over 800 head. This loses 58 

 per cent, of its weight in factory washing. His Excellency 

 Count Thun-Hohenstein, of Peruc, Bohemia, exhibited high- 

 fine Merino sheep, the average clip of which was stated to be 

 4 English pounds of washed wool. The cull ewes are either 

 sold or crossed with Southdown rams, giving the half-breds 

 before noticed. Baron Albert von Klein, of Hemmersdorf, 

 Austrian Silesia, the President of the Keltschan Sugar Company, 

 is a well-known promoter of agricultural improvement and scien- 

 tific breeding of animals. As representing the oldest existing 

 flock in the Empire, the Baron's Electoral ^lerinos are deserving 

 of special notice. The original flock was brought direct from 

 Spain in 1770, and was bred without admixture of foreign 

 Ijlood till 1864. In 18G5, two rams were introduced from the 

 Oschatz flock, which brought with them a longer and more 

 compact carcass. 



Josef Maria, and Emma Aresin, of Partschendorf, and Erbsedl- 

 nitz. Standing, Moravia, were exhibitors of " Original-Merino- 

 Negretti " sheep, which, like those just noticed, claim a direct 

 i^panish descent, as may be proved by documents. It is there- 

 fore, say the owners, to be considered as belonging to the j\ egretti 

 or Infantado stock. The average clip of o^ English lbs. per 

 head is high rather than low, as it includes a large number of 

 Avinter and summer lambs, is of very high quality, and was 

 weighed after warm washing. The wool has been sold as high 

 as 245^. per centner, or above 4^. per English lb. On account 

 •of the high character of both fleece and carcass, sheep from 

 this flock are sold into Australia and South America, as well as 

 into the neighbouring countries of Prussia, Poland, and Russia. 



