58 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



such lands, so cheap. In none are general circumstances more favor- 

 able, the accidental and occasional disadvantages so few." 



Upon its annexation to the United States, in 1845, Texas 

 retained, as the most valuable, though then little appreciated, 

 relic of the former Mexican proprietors, scattered here and 

 there, flocks of the so-called " native " sheep of Mexico, of 

 which large flocks still abound in that country, and which still 

 furnishes an easy supply of all that are needed. This race, 

 greatly deteriorated by neglect, small in size, and bearing 

 about two pounds of coarse wool, is supposed by many to be 

 degenerated merinos. It is now well established that they 

 are descendants from the Chourro race of Spain, even at 

 present distributed in all parts of that kingdom, a race dis- 

 tinguished for its robust temperament, the facility with which 

 it is nourished, and its resistance to hunger and tempestuous 

 seasons. When the animals are properly fed and bred, they 

 may be made to produce a long and very white, though coarse, 

 wool, well adapted for carpets. This is the stock which was 

 the original foundation of the present Texas flocks. 



The first recognized improver of these sheep, and therefore 

 the founder of the present sheep husbandry of Texas, was G. 

 W. Kendall, who had been an editor of a leading paper in 

 New Orleans. He was the first to conceive the idea of en- 

 grafting the merino stock upon the native Mexican sheep. 

 His experiments were attended with extraordinary success-. 

 He was, in his time, the largest wool-grower in the State. 

 "Braunfels" (his establishment), about twenty miles north- 

 east from San Antonio, will take its place in the history of 

 sheep husbandry with " Camden," the initial point from which 

 the sheep husbandry of Australia spread. Mr. Kendall did 

 for Texas what Captain Me Arthur did for Australia. They 

 were the great benefactors of their respective countries. The 

 journalism of America can cite no better example of the in- 

 fluence of that great profession than the results achieved by 

 the journalist, Kendall. 



We regret that, with all our efforts, we have been unable 

 to obtain condensed, original statements in regard to the sheep 



