SHEEP. 325 



were variously selected from the best flocks in Spain. From 

 these have descended the high bred, silken-fleeced Saxons, 

 whose wool stands confessedly without a rival, tn 1775, the 

 Empress Maria Theresa imported 300 Merinos into Ger- 

 many, and placed them on the imperial farm in Hungary. In 

 1786, an importation was made into Denmark and her provin- 

 ces; and again, in 1797, another flock of 300 was brought into 

 the kingdom, and placed at Esserum, about eight leagues 

 from Copenhagen, In 1786, 100 rams and 200 ewes were 

 imported into Prussia, most of which were allowed to perish 

 from disease, but their places were fully made up by later im- 

 portations. The same year, 400 ewes and rams were selected 

 from the choicest Spanish flocks, and placed on the Royal 

 farm of Rambouillet, in France, which laid the foundation of 

 the celebrated flock which bears that name. A small flock of 

 inferior animals was clandestinely procured by George III, of 

 England, in 1788, which attracted' little attention. In 1791, 

 a small but choice flock, was presented to that monarch, by 

 the Cortes of Spain, which soon acquired high favor among 

 many intelligent breeders. A part of these were kept pure, 

 and their descendants furnished the superb flock of 700 nigret- 

 tis, which procured for their owner, Mr. Trimmer, in 1829, the 

 gold medal from the London Society of Arts Others were 

 mixed with different flock, in the kingdom, to the evident im- 

 provement of their fleeces. 



THE FIRST IMPORTATION OF MERINOES INTO THE UNITED 



STATES which resulted in the propagation of a pure breed,* 

 was made by Chancellor Livingston, then minister at the 

 court of Versailles, who sent two choice rams and ewes from 

 the Rambouillet flock in 1802, to Claremont, his country seat 

 on the Hudson. In the latter part of the same year, Col. 

 Humphreys, our minister in Spain, sent out nearly one hun- 

 dred Merinoes, which were followed by more numerous flocks 

 from the same and other sources. The largest importations of 

 the Merino, however, were made through Mr. Jarvis of Ver- 

 mont, then U. S. Consul in Spain, in 1809, and immediately 

 thereafter. He first shipped, as he states, "200 Escurial, 

 afterwards, 1400 Paulars, 1700 Aqueirres, 100 Nigrettis and 

 about 200 Montarcos. 2700 Montarcos, were sent out by a 

 Spaniard and Portuguese, and about 300 Guadaloupes by 

 others ; also 200 to 300 Paulars, by Gen. Downie, to Boston. 



* One or more pure Merinoes, were imported into Massachusetts, in the latter 

 part of the last century, by a citizen of that state, but they were soon mixed 

 with other flocks, and resulted in the perpetuation of no distinct flocks. 



