9<5 THE SHEPHERD'S MANUAL. 



those early days of the American Merinos are far surpassed now, 

 and the average of some small flocks reaches over 10 pounds of 

 washed wool. Many remarkable reports of recent shearings might 

 be selected from various agricultural journals, which go to show 

 a greatly increased production of wool per head, and the reports 

 may doubtless be accepted as in the main correct. In the Ohio 

 Farmer of June 19th, 1875, are reported weights of some fleeces of 

 pure-bred American Merinos, viz : of a flock of 44, an aged ram's 

 fleece weighed 20 pounds ; 34 yearling ewes' fleeces weighed 410 

 Ibs. 3 oz., an average of over 12 pounds, and 9 aged ewes' fleeces, 

 108 Ibs. 7 oz., an average of 12 pounds. The wool was 3 inches 

 long, of a clear white color, and therefore free from excessive 

 yolk. Also of a flock of 80 ; 19 ram lambs, average age 13J- 

 months, sheared 325J Ibs., average 17 Ibs. 2 oz. per fleece; 13 

 rams, 2 to 6 years old, sheared 225, or 17 Ibs. 5 oz. per fleece ; 48 

 ewes produced 668 Ibs. 6 oz., or 14 Ibs. nearly per fleece. The 

 extreme weights of the ram lambs' fleeces were from 14 Ibs. to 20 

 Ibs. ; of the rams, 14 Ibs. to 24 Ibs. 4 oz., and of the ewes, 12 Ibs. . 

 to 18 Ibs. These fleeces, being doubtless unwashed, would shrink 

 one-third in washing. In the Michigan Farmer of July, , 1875, 

 the weight of 16 fleeces is reported at 168 Ibs. of washed wool, 

 an average of 10i Ibs. each ; 10 ewes yielded 91 Ibs.. ; 3 yearling- 

 rams produced 45 J- Ibs., and three yearling ewes 32 Ibs. The 

 Detroit Tribune, about the same time, reports a flock of 43 

 ewes and wethers which produced 399 Ibs., an average of 

 about 9^ Ibs. of washed wool. Seven yearling rams sheared 

 lOOi Ibs., being 13 months' growth of wool; one of these fleeces 

 weighed 15 Ibs., and the sheep after shearing weighed 49 Ibs. One 

 6-year ram sheared 19 Ibs. unwashed wool. Another flock of 33 

 ewes produced 318 Ibs. of wool, washed on the sbeeps' backs 9 

 days previously. These reports are selected at haphazard, upon 

 casually glancing over a few of the papers which are in the habit 

 of publishing news of this character, sent by known correspond- 

 ents. In all these cases the names and addresses are given with 

 the reports, but are withheld here, as they are in no way excep- 

 tional, or surpass the reports of the flocks of numberless other 

 farmers or breeders. Indeed, many thoroughly trustworthy re- 

 ports are constantly being given of greater weights of fleece than 

 any of these. The following reports of the weights of the premi- 

 um fleeces sheared at the annual meeting of the American Wool- 

 Growers' Association of 1875, may be given as finally conclusive 

 of the fact under consideration, viz : the gradual improvement and 

 present high value of the American Merino in the hands of Ameri- 



