FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 23 



French muslin de laines are made, as it has length oi 

 staple and fineness, with requisite strength, which is 

 all important. 



" Three years ago a gentleman sent me, from Estre- 

 madura, a number of Spanish Merino fleeces as a sam- 

 ple (as circumstances did not allow me to see his flock 

 when in Spain). They were little wads of fleeces. I 

 can send you one if you have any curiosity to see it."* 



The remarkable fact is made to appear, from these 

 statements of Mr. Taintor, that, at the period of his 

 importations, there were flocks of 500 in France which 

 produced 14 Ibs. of wool to the ewe, and from 20 to 

 24 Ibs. to the rams. If we are to suppose the belly 

 and tag wool excluded from these also, then the ewes 

 produce nearly 9 Ibs. 6 oz., and the rams about 14 Ibs. 

 11 oz. of brook-washed wool. If, as I conjecture, 

 grown sheep are only referred to here, the weight of 

 the ewes probably averaged not far from 150 Ibs., and 

 the rams at least 200 Ibs.f 



I have traced down the history of these sheep to 

 the period of their comparatively recent emigration 

 to the United States, although two or three importa- 



* One of these fleeces has been forwarded to me. It is in the dirt, 

 and weighs five Ibs. eleven oz. It is difficult to judge its exact qual- 

 ity, as exposure to the air has converted much of it to the color of a 

 sponge, and altered its appearance in other particulars. It is about 

 as long as American Merino wool is not very even in quality, and I 

 think I am not mistaken in saying that in fineness it would be below 

 mediocrity in any prime full blood American flock. Having been sent 

 among specimens from Spain it ought to be up, at least, to the average 

 quality and quantity of fleeces in that country. 



j-I have seen flocks of Mr. Taintor's imported sheep, and their im- 

 mediate descendants, numbering thirty or forty each, and I judge this 

 about the> average weight of the full grown ewes when in good con- 

 dition. They varied from 125 to 180 Ibs. an occasional one reaching 

 200 Ibs. 



