FINE WOOLED BREEDS 



LECTURE NO. 4. 



THE AMERICAN MERINO ORIGIN AND HISTORY, 



CHARACTERISTICS AND PRINCIPAL POINTS. 



ORIGIN AND HISTORY. 



I. The Merino sheep, now found in various 

 countries, came originally from Spain, but there is 

 much difference of opinion as to the exact origin 

 of the Spanish Merino. 



(1) Even anterior to the Christian era, fine wooled sheep 

 abounded in Spain, the fleeces of which were much prized for 

 purposes of manufacture, and 



(2) It has been claimed that these were improved by 

 sheep brought from Tarentum in the first century. 



II. For several centuries past, the Merinos in 

 vSpain have been divided into provincial varieties, and 

 these again into sub-varieties, or great permanent 

 flocks, usually termed Cabanas. 



(1) These Cabanas were again known as Transhumantes, 

 or traveling flocks, and Estantes, or stationary flocks. 



(2) Prominent among the sub-varieties were the Infan- 

 tadoes, Paulars, Escurials, Negrettis, Montarcos, Guadaloupes 

 and Aguirres. 



III. Merinos have been extensively imported 

 into France, Germany, the United States, Australia 

 and other countries. 



(i) They were imported into Saxony in 1765, where the 

 wool has been brought to an unprecedented condition of fine- 

 ness, but at the expense of size of carcass and constitution. 



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