SHEEP. 219 



dimensions, the appearance of having been taken from tlie 

 carcass of a huge butfalo, rather than so small an animal as tUe 

 domestic sheep. 



" 4. The fibre of the wool is very fine, quite equal to the best 

 Merino in Spain, and is the very antipodes of that of which so 

 mucfi complaint is made by the manufacturer, of being harsh, 

 dry, crispy and wiry. The fleece opens of a brilliant creamy 

 color within, on a skin of rich pink, and is soft, glossy, wavy, and 

 is very even over the whole body ; is exceedingly close and com- 

 pact, and has a yolk free from gum, and easily liberated when 

 it comes to be washed, but which protects the wool from the 

 weather, and keeps it free of the dead ends that are so objec- 

 tionable. It becomes of the purest white when scoured by the 

 manufacturer, and still retains its mellow, oily touch, so grate- 

 ful to the handling of good judges. Its felting properties are 

 beyond dispute, making it a choice material for the manufac- 

 turer of fine cloths." 



This description will apply to the fine-woolled sheep of Ver- 

 mont and other sections of our country. 



In Switzerland, the best mountain sheep are mixed Merinos. 



In Saxony, Merinos have reached a great degree of perfec- 

 tion since their first importation in 1764. They have been 

 preserved with great care, and have been closely bred for the 

 purpose of improving their fleece. The sheep husbandry of 

 Saxony somewhat resembles that of the United States. And, 

 although the importations of Saxonies into this country have 

 been in many instances unfortunate, they are still found to be 

 valuable animals, in their native regions. Mr. Grennell says, 

 that : " Although the Saxony wool is of superlative fineness, 

 the sheep are not hardy, the fleece being so light as not suflfi- 

 cient to protect them from cold and wet, or to be generally 

 remunerative, averaging through the country only two pounds 

 and two ounces to the fleece." The account given by Mr. 

 Carr of their in-and-in breeding, and their enervating treat- 

 ment, will readily account for this. 



^ The sheep of Prussia have been brought to an excellence 

 rivalling the Saxonies, by the introduction of Merinos. Pre- 

 vious to this, they were of a very inferior character ; whereas 

 .they now form a most important part of the agricultural indus- 

 try of that kingdom. The same is true with regard to the 



