THE WOOL BREEDS OF SHEEP 377 



RAMBOUILLET OR FRENCH MERINO SHEEP 

 Figs. 75, 76. 



464. The Rambouillet is a very large type of Merino, 

 developed in France from Spanish Merino stock, and tak- 

 ing its name from the Royal farm at the village of Ram- 

 bouillet, near Paris. 



465. History. The first importation of sheep from 

 Spain to the Royal farm at the village of Rambouillet 

 was in 1786. Other importations were made at later 

 dates. The improvement was secured principally by 

 selection, the object being to produce a large carcass, of 

 good mutton form, covered with a good fleece. Much 

 success was attained in point of size, although the fleece 

 did not increase in the same ratio. The French govern- 

 ment officials kept careful records of their breeding opera- 

 tions at Rambouillet for upwards of a hundred years. 

 Besides the flock at Rambouillet, other flocks were estab- 

 lished in France, and from these important breeding farms 

 in Germany were stocked. 



Rambouillets were first brought to America in 1840, 

 under the name of French Merinos. Many were imported 

 during the fifteen years following, and the breed had rather 

 widespread popularity. Between the years 1856 and 

 1860, a number of Rambouillets, bred by John D. Pat- 

 terson, of New York, and descended from an importa- 

 tion of his own, were taken to California and became 

 the progenitors of several very noted flocks now existing 

 in that state. In 1851, a company of Ohio breeders, 

 headed by A. P. Howard, made an importation. 



At first, Rambouillets were welcomed, but later they 

 went into disfavor, owing principally to an alleged lack 



