7tf BEGINNINGS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



prices, some selling for as high as $1500 each. As our 

 country developed, the Merino became widely distributed 

 and but few of any other kind were kept for many years. 

 During this time our people cared but little for mutton, but 

 high prices were paid for wool, for which the Merino was 

 especially valued. These sheep grew greatly in popularity 

 in all wool-producing countries, so that even today there are 

 more sheep of this breed than any other, for immense flocks 



Jtf'ig. 42. A Merino ram owned by S. M. Cleaver, of Ohio, 

 graph by the author. 



Photo- 



are found in Australia, South America, and over much of 

 the United States. However, the production of wool is 

 growing less profitable, so that shepherds are gradually 

 changing to the mutton breeds, or are giving up their 

 flocks altogether. 



A number of different Merino families have been devel- 

 oped in America. They all had their origin in the sheep of 

 Spanish breeding, but in the hands of certain men each 



