410 THE ESSENTIALS OF AGRICULTURE 



Sheep of the long-wool breeds that are most important in 

 this country are larger and more upstanding than those of the 

 medium-wool breeds, but as a rule the body of this type of 

 sheep is of the same general mutton form as that of the medium- 

 wool type. The fleece is heavy and much more open than that of 

 the medium wools, and the staple is long and comparatively coarse. 



FIG. 207. American Merino 



Note the characteristic wrinkled skin, fine, oily fleece, heavy horns, and hairy legs, 

 face, and nose 



540. The fine-wool breeds. The breeds of fine-wool sheep 

 are as follows: American Merino, which originated and devel- 

 oped in Spain and later was improved in the United States ; 

 Delaine Merino, which developed in the United States; and 

 the Rambouillet, which developed in France. 



541 . The American Merino. The American Merino (Fig. 207) 

 developed under migratory conditions ; therefore the habit of 

 sheep of this breed to flock or stay together when on the range 

 was early fixed. This tendency to flock has given the Merino 

 first place as a sheep suitable for our Western-range conditions. 



