THE WOOL BREEDS OF SHEEP 369 



they scoured out no more than 12 per cent of clean wool ; 

 others have made 40 per cent. Perhaps an average yield 

 of clean wool would be about 30 per cent of the weight of 

 the fleece as shorn. A good ewe should shear fifteen 

 pounds and a ram twenty to twenty-four pounds of wool. 

 Individual records may far exceed this. 



452. Distribution. The Merino has become very 

 widespread, and is now found in all civilized countries 

 where flocks are kept, although it cannot be said to 

 be universally popular or successful. It originated in a 

 warm climate. It has shown ability to withstand hot 

 weather and tropical climates, so long as they are dry. By 

 far the greater part of the sheep of Australia are Merinos. 

 It has also been important in New Zealand and Argentina. 

 The Merino thrives in Vermont, New York, Ohio, and 

 other north-central states, in Texas, and all the states of 

 the West, where it constitutes by far the majority of the 

 range flocks. It has never been popular in Canada, and 

 is not raised in England. 



AMERICAN MERINO SHEEP. Figs. 72, 73. 



453. The American Merino was developed from the 

 Spanish Merino, the blood of several different families 

 having been interbred. In recent years, the Delaine and 

 Rambouillet types of Merinos have become more popular 

 in America than the American Merino, owing to their 

 better form and ability to fatten, and the high prices 

 prevailing for mutton. 



454. Description. The head of a typical American 

 Merino is small, broad and short, the rams carrying heavy, 

 spirally-twisted horns, and the ewes being hornless. 

 The form of the American Merino is somewhat delicate. 



2s 



