FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 105 



superior in quality to that of any Merino, except the 

 Saxon, ever brought into or bred in our country. 

 The weight of that fleece has been stated by Mr. 

 Chamberlain. "Wherever it is most profitable to grow 

 really Jme wool, this variety ought to stand unrivalled. 

 And I cannot entertain a doubt that there will 

 always be sufficient demand in the United States for 

 such wool, to make large flocks of these Silesian 

 sheep profitable. If our broadcloth manufactures 

 should revive, as it is to be hoped they will, it will 

 add immensely to the call for this class of wool. 



"Where it is desirable to make crosses between 

 Merinos and coarse breeds, or to add to the fineness 

 and evenness of coarse families of Merinos, these 

 sheep would seem well fitted to the object. 



Since writing the above, I have examined Mr. 

 Chamberlain's imported flock and their descendants, 

 in his possession. My impressions of the admirable 

 quality and uniformity of their fleeces is fully con- 

 firmed. Most of the lambs were dropped when I 

 saw them (Feb. 10th), and the ewes appear to be 

 excellent nurses. Their carcasses are round, and of 

 good shape. Some of them are taller in proportion 

 to weight than I consider desirable because the 

 German breeders pay less attention to this point but 

 this tendency could be promptly changed without 

 going out of the flock for rams. I know not why 

 there is so prevalent an idea that they are small 

 sheep. They are at least as large as the ordinary 

 American Merino. They are entirely free from gum 

 within the wool, but are exceedingly yolky and dark 

 colored. They are housed in the winter and at night 

 throughout the summer, to protect them from dogs 

 5* 



