THE WOOL BREEDS OF SHEEP 373 



mentioned above, by William R. Dickinson of Ohio, who 

 began his improvement of Merino sheep in 1809. James 

 McDowell became possessed of some of the Dickinson 

 flock and created the McDowell strain of Dickinsons. 

 The standard of excellence for Dickinson Delaines says 

 that the sheep shall have a deep, round, wide and long 

 body, showing mutton capacity, carrying heavy, thick 

 flesh, the top- and under-lines straight, the skin smooth 

 and pink and well filled out, being free from folds. The 

 head may have small horns, but a polled head is pre- 

 ferred. The fleece should be three to five inches long, of 

 a quality to grade XX or XXX fine Delaine combing. 

 Rams should shear fifteen to twenty-five pounds and ewes 

 ten to fifteen pounds of unwashed wool. Mature rams 

 should weigh 200 pounds, and mature ewes 150 pounds. 

 The National Delaines are descended from an impor- 

 tation of Merinos, made by R. W. Meade, in 1820. Alex. 

 Reed, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, came into 

 possession of a number of this importation the year fol- 

 lowing, and his flock may be considered the foundation 

 of the Delaine type. Many of the Reed flock were sold 

 to other breeders in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, 

 who developed the type, perhaps more than Reed had 

 done. This type is not very different from the Dickinson. 

 It has the smooth body, characteristic of the Delaine, 

 almost free from folds. It does not seem to be desirable 

 to dispense with folds altogether, as they appear to be 

 associated with density and weight of wool. This 

 family does not attain so large size as the Dickinson, 

 running perhaps fifty pounds less for both male and 

 female. The staple should reach three inches in a year, 

 and the fleece should weigh up to nine pounds and be 

 comparatively free from oil. 



