334 FARMER'S ASSISTANT, 



where Winter is scarcely felt, would be found unable to 

 stand the seventy of our Winters; but the tact just men- 

 tioned, of their being successfully reared even in the cold 

 climate of Sweden, sufficiently obviates this objection. 



Mr. Livingston says, that, * like all other Sheep, they 

 will be found the better for good keeping ; yet they will rot 

 suffer more than others from neglect ; and that they will, in 

 every mixed flock, be found amongst the most thritty in the 

 severest weather.' 



Some, again, may suppose that the Country will soon be 

 stocked with Merinos, und that the price ot their wool will 

 then fall to that ot common wool; but such should remem- 

 ber, that more than half the civilized world is destitute oi 

 these Sheep; and that, while they continue to remain so, 

 the Sheep, the wool, or the fabrics made from it, will be 

 eagerly sought after. 



In the course of a century, North and South- America will 

 probably contain two hundred millions of People, and the 

 wants of these alone will at that time require three hundred 

 millions ot Merinos. There is certainly no danger of the 

 price of Merino wool tailing much, for twenty years to 

 come. 



The Ewes of this breed seldom produce twins; though, 

 if necessary, they may be made, like other Sheep, to breed 

 twice a year. Ewes of the E iglish Teeswater breed have 

 been known to bring five Lambs in a year. 



The Ram, when put to the Ewes, should be better kept 

 than usual; and for this purpose should be fed two or three 

 times a day with a slice or two of bread, made of Indian 

 meal, which may be given to him by hand. When the 

 Ewes are not suckling Lambs, they may at any time be 

 brought to take the Ram, by feeding some Indian corn to 

 them. 



The first Lamb of a young Ewe will never be so strong 

 as those succeeding, because she will not have the same 

 strength, nor the same quantity of milk, which she will 

 have afterwards. 



There are different breeds of Merinos in Spain, says Mr. 

 Livingston, and the wool of some is interior to that of 

 others ; some selling there for only sixty cents a pound, 

 while others sell for a dollar. The best flocks are those of 

 the Escurialy of Gaudaloufie, of Paular, of the Duke D'In 

 fantadO) of Monturto^ and of the Nigretti. The first exceeds 

 for fineness of wool ; the second, lor fineness of form, and 

 fineness and abundance of fleece ; the third, with similar 

 fleeces, are larger bodied. * The L.imbs of this stock, and 

 of that of the Duke D'Infantado, are commonly droped with 

 a thick covering, which changes into very fine wool.' The 

 Nigretti are the largest breed. 



