JUDGING LIVE STOCK. 239 



ewes he kept; but many of the rams were sold to farmers 

 for the improvement of their flocks. 



In 1809 Mr. William Jarvis began importing, and altogether 

 he numbered more than 3,500 sheep of the very best Merino 

 blood he could procure. 



These made an excellent foundation upon which to build, 

 and from these importations the Merino fast became scattered 

 over the eastern northern states. Here the soil, climate and 

 feed were admirably suited to these sheep, and improvement 

 was rapid and steady. Merino blood is to be found from the 

 east to the extreme west. There is not a state in the Union 

 but has the mark of the Merino. The American Merino in 

 its purity has been exported to Australia, Africa, and South 

 America. This race of sheep is noted for its valuable fleece 

 of fine wool. A square inch of skin surface bears from 40,000 

 to 48,000 wool hairs. 



The result of the best breeding of this race of sheep has 

 been marked by a continuous improvement. The weight of 

 the carcass has been increased 25 per cent. Its form has 

 been improved in that way by which the yield of fleece has 

 been doubled; the legs have been shortened, and the back 

 broadened at least one-third, the wool producing surface thus 

 being increased, while the density of the wool on the skin is 

 greater. As a wool-bearer this breed has been greatly im- 

 proved, while the mutton has been made more marketable. 



Since wool production is not now the paramount consid- 

 eration in sheep raising, the Merino is giving place to those 

 breeds that conform to the mutton form. 



The Merino is a hardy sheep and is capable of adapting 

 itself to all sorts of environments, and has shown itself very 

 responsive to improved conditions. It is a good grazer on 

 rough, broken land. It is lacking somewhat in early maturity. 

 The mothers are fairly good breeders, but are rather scanty 

 in their milk supply. 



They shear by far the finest wool of any sheep in America, 

 and, according to their size, produce the largest fleece. 



State associations look after the interests of the breed. 

 This, however, has not been as satisfactory as it might have 

 been, had a central organization had it in charge. More 

 uniformity would thus have been secured. 



