SECRETARY'S REPORT. 133 



Rambouillet. Thej were fine representatives of the present 

 condition of French Merinos. I took occasion, while in France, 

 in the month of August, to visit that establishment, introduce 

 myself to Baron Daurier, the intelligent director, who very 

 cordially conducted me himself to all parts of the buildings and 

 showed me the mode of management, and each flock in turn, 

 classified according to their ages. The Baron subsequently 

 placed in my hands the following note, in manuscript, which I 

 translate : — 



THE MERINOS OF RAMBOUILLET. 



The Imperial flocks of Rambouillet belong to the stocky 

 variety, of which the largest and most perfect models are to be 

 found in the establishment. In contrast with the light variety, 

 which is of a slender build and high on the legs, the sheep of 

 Rambouillet have much greater tendency to fatten. Their 

 forms are perfect, they are low on the leg, of a strong body, 

 and of a form rather round than long and flat. They are 

 covered with a beautiful wool in square locks, soft to the touch, 

 well laid on, Qassee,^ finely notched, or curled and elastic. 

 The legs, the hams, the belly, are alike covered with wool. 



The fleeces are neither loose nor uneven. The locks 

 composed of an equal wool have a direction always perpendic- 

 ular to the part of the body from which they start. This 

 prismatic form of a uniform size, moreover, presents upon the 

 surface of the fleece, dimensions quite parallel to those which 

 it has at the base. A considerable number of undulations are 

 noticed upon each isolated staple. 



The Merinos are distinguished, not only for the fineness and 

 the valuable quality of the fleece, but also by a great quantity 

 of wool in proportion to the size of the animal. 



Long experience has proved that the Merinos of Spain, far 

 from degenerating, are improved at Rambouillet, and that results 

 are obtained superior to all those which the finest flocks of Spain 

 present. Several qualities have been clearly developed, such 

 as increase of size and with it the quantity and quality of the 

 wool. It may be remarked that when the flock came to Ram- 

 bouillet, in 1786, a great part of the animals had what is called 

 " ham-strung," Q'arre,') which has disappeared in their progeny 

 as a sole effect of increased care. The Merinos form a race by 



