238 MERINOS. 



The Saxon Merino originated from a flock of 300 Spanish Merinos 

 of the Escurial family, sent in 1765, by King Louis XV., to Saxony, in 

 response to the request of his brother-in-law, Prince Xavier. The Escu- 

 rial family of Spanish Merinos had always been noted as bearing the 

 finest wool of any in the kingdom ; and their Saxon breeders have care- 

 fully preserved this, the only really valuable feature of the breed. 

 Saxon Merinos require great care and attention being the least hardy 

 of any of the modern Merinos and, as they yield an average clip of not 

 over two or three pounds, the higher price obtained for quality does not 

 make up for the marked deficiency in weight of fleece. 



The German or Silesian Merino is the only one (except the American) 

 of the Spanish branches which may be called a success. It is the direct 

 result of uniting the Infantado and Negretti families of Spanish Merinos, 

 and is as purely Spanish in its nature as if really Spanish bred. The 

 original importation to Silesia was made in 1811, by Ferdinand Fischer, 

 of Wirchenblatt. This gentleman selected in person 100 Infantado 

 ewes and four Negretti rams, and so carefully did he preserve the purity 

 of the breed that the pedigree of every sheep since the foundation of 

 the flock has been recorded, and no trace of outside blood can be found. 



Silesian Merinos from Mr. Fischer's flock were first imported to the 

 United States about 1850-60, by William Chamberlain, of Duchess Co., 

 New York, in all some 250 head, and have since obtained considerable 

 favor. The wool is finer than that of the Spanish Merino, and the 

 carcass little if any smaller. They mature slowly, but are said to be 

 hardy and fairly prolific. 



From this brief account of the Merino in other countries, we may 

 pass to consider more in detail the modern families which have attained 

 popularity on this side of the Atlantic. 



The American Merino. 



The first importations of pure Spanish Merinos to the United States 

 were soon lost sight of, through being mixed with other blood ; but we 

 give them in order, so far as possible, as being of interest to American 

 breeders. 



About 1791 four Spanish rams were shipped to the United States, 

 and one of them was used in the vicinity of Wilmington, Delaware, until 

 1808. In 1793 Hon. William Foster, of Boston, imported from Cadiz 

 two Merino ewes and one ram ; these sheep were presented to a friend, 

 who, ignorant of their great value, killed and ate them. (Mr. Foster, 

 it is said, afterwards caught this same unfortunate friend in the act of 

 paying $1,000 for a Merino ram no better than the one he had eaten.) 

 . In 1802, however, the first importation of importance was made by 

 Col. David Humphreys, of Derby, Conn., then Minister to Spain, and 

 from the flock then introduced the modern Atwoods, Dickinsons and 

 Black-Tops have sprung. 



