22 FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



fleece for the manufacturer, and the most valuable 

 carcass for the butcher. 



" Since 1828 I have been seven times across the 

 water, and at one time -took a year and a half to visit 

 every part of Europe, and examine the flocks and see 

 the owners, hear all they had to say, and then use my 

 own judgment. You are aware that the Spanish Me- 

 rinos have become almost lost. They are so small, 

 neglected, and miserable, that I would not take one of 

 them even as a present. 



" Improved machinery, too, has had a ruinous effect 

 on the Saxony flocks, as they have learned the art oi 

 using medium wool in the place of very fine. The 

 sheep of Saxony, proper, are more than half a million 

 less in number than ten years ago. 



" In France, the Royal flock (now the private pro- 

 perty of the Emperor), at Kambouillet, which, for 

 years, attracted all the sheep masters 'of Europe to its 

 annual auction sale, bred the fleece so fine, and the 

 animals so delicate, that they could no longer attract 

 attention ; and, four years ago, they changed the plan, 

 and now sell (when they can) at private sale. The 

 sheep have no wool on the head or legs, and but little 

 on the belly. They are ruined by high breeding. 

 The wool is short and fine. 



" In France forage is more than double the price 

 that it is in this country. The price of mutton is also 

 about double, and the price of wool, on the average 

 of the last fifteen years, about twenty-four to twenty- 

 six cents per pound, always in the grease. Ewes' 

 fleeces average 14 Ibs. (in flocks of 500), and 

 rams 20 Ibs. to 24 Ibs. Say average weight for 

 ewes (all ages) 100 Ibs., and rams 200 Ibs. One 

 ram I bought (for 3,000 francs or $600) weighed 

 309 Ibs., carrying a fleece, unwashed, of thirty-two 

 Ibs. Fair estimate of loss, in cleansing, sixty per cent. 



" iFis from this class of flocks I have selected my 

 Merinos. It is from wool of this class that the fine 



