NATIVE BREEDS. 91 



factories of such woolen goods as are in demand in the western 

 country, and thus render the far western states independent, so 

 far as regards their supply of woolen manufactures, of the eastern 

 factories. 



THE VIRGINIA SHEEP. A native race of greater pretensions, 

 and far greater value than the preceding, sprung from the first 

 importation of English sheep in Jamestown, Va., in 1609. The 

 original settlers of this new Dominion were in part men of wealth 

 and position. The stock they imported would naturally be of the 

 best that could be obtained, and the favorable climate of the 

 country for sheep-raising, would tend to preserve the sheep from 

 degradation. Repeated importations of excellent sheep were 

 made during the succeeding two centuries, by prominent Virgin- 

 ians, amongst whom were the Washingtons, and various members 

 of the Custis family. Thus was founded a class of more than 

 usually good, heavy bodied, long-wool sheep, which still exists and 

 is famed for producing excellent early market lambs. Of late 

 years considerable Leicester, Cotswold, and Southdown blood has 

 been mingled with the old stock. Although the Virginia sheep 

 can hardly claim to be considered as a distinct breed, yet they 

 certainly furnish a very good basis upon which, by careful selec- 

 tion and interbreeding, to found a breed thoroughly well adapted 

 to the locality, as they are already acclimated and possess estab- 

 lished qualities. 



THE IMPROVED KENTUCKY SHEEP. An account of the efforts 

 which have been made to produce native varieties of sheep, would 

 not be complete without the mention of what has been called the 

 " Improved Kentucky Sheep." This breed or race originated with 

 Mr. Robert Scott, of Frankfort, Kentucky, who crossed the com- 

 mon native sheep of the locality, with Merino, Leicester, South- 

 down, Cotswold, and Oxford-down rams. This was begun about 

 40 years ago, by selecting 30 native ewes, which were bred 

 to a selected Merino ram. The yearling ewes of this cross were 

 bred to an imported Leicester ram. The ewes of this cross were 

 served by an imported ram of the Southdown breed. The pro- 

 duce of this cross were then bred to a ram of mixed blood, three- 

 fourths Cotswold and one-fourth Southdown. The next two 

 crosses were made by Cotswold rams, and the next by an Oxford- 

 down ram. The produce of the last cross were bred to Cotswold 

 rams again. This brought the flock up to 1855, when a mixed 

 Cotswold, Oxford, Leicester, and Southdown ram was brought 

 into service. After this the rams produced by this very mixed 



