SHEEP. 331 



THE PROGRESS OF THE MERINO IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Though reaching back but half a century, the Merino flocks 

 of this country have been very fluctuating as to their value, in- 

 crease and improvement. When first introduced, they were 

 virwcd with distrust by the majority of our farmers; and it 

 was not till after several years' experience of their para- 

 mount merits, that they were generally disseminated. But the 

 confidence of our flock-masters having once been secured, it 

 has never been withdrawn, and they have ever since, been 

 cherished favorites. The prices for choice Merinos rapidly 

 increased after a few years, and Livingston states the average 

 price for rams, in 1811, at $1000, and some were sold at a 

 much higher rate. This was the period of the embargo, 

 when our infant manufactures were just starting into life ; and 

 b^ ing followed by war with the greatest commercial nation 

 of the world, we were thrown entirely on our own resources 

 tor the supply of our woolen and other fabrics, and wool and 

 sheep maintained their full value till the return of peace, in 

 1815. The flooding of our country with foreign goods, under 

 low duties, which succeeded this event, either broke down or 

 effectually paralyzed our woolen manufactures, and wool, of 

 course, felt the fnll weight of this crushing influence. The 

 Merino rapidly declined in value, till its price nearly approxi- 

 mated to that of the native sheep. Their merits had, how- 

 ever, become so conspicuous, that the low prices produced a 

 more general diffusion, and they and their crosses were thus 

 sown broad-cast over the country. 



close as it is customary ; besides, on several of them, from half to one pound of 

 the wool was left on the heads and legs, for the purpose of Riving an idea of their 

 fleeces to those who may call hereafter to look at them. Taking all these things 

 into consideration, it was the unanimous opinion of several sheep-masters present, 

 that the wool clipped from these ewes was not more than would have been equiva- 

 lent to one year's growth. We shall not compare the weight of these fleeces with 

 what is generally termed CLEAN WASHED wool, as it is the most uncertain and 

 unsatisfactory comparison which can be made, for when it comes to be cleansed 

 l>y the manufacturer, it will vary in loss from 20 to 50 per cent, just as the case 

 may happen. Ft was the unbiased opinion of several wool dealers present, and our 

 nun, that the shearing above would yield at least 35 Ibs. of CLEANSED wool, fitted 

 for manufacturing without further loss, out of every 100 Ibs. shorn. The fourteen 

 ewes yielded 216 Ibs. unwashed, which would be equivalent to 75 Ibs. 10 oz. tho- 

 roughly cleansed, or an average of 5 Ibs. 6 oz. per head. If any of our readers are 

 desirous to know what this would come up to, CLEAN WASHED, they may safely add 

 one-third. This would bring the average as wool growers usually dispose of their 

 fleeces, to 7 Ibs. 3 oz. per head, a yield totally unprecedented in this country. Th<: 

 usual average weight of good Merino ewes is about half this. The average of the 

 flocks in Europe from which these sheep were chosen, is, for rams from 15 to 17 

 Ibs. per head; for ewes 1 1 to 13 Ibs., unwashed. The average price of such wool in 

 its unwashed state, is 26 cents per Ib. of our money. These sheep show great vigor 

 of constitution, and are remarkably well formed, with enormous dewlaps and folds 

 all over the carcass. Their fleeces are very close, thickly covering the head and 

 legs as well as the body, and are uncommonly even, the wool being nearly as good 

 on the flanks as on the shoulders, while its felting properties are unsurpassed. In 

 fineness of quality it is equal to the beat American Merino. 



