SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



193 



number of Electoral ewes was thereby increased to 224 head 

 in 1851, while on account of the heavy sale of wool they were 

 reduced to 50 head in 1862. 



Another part of the Justinger breed, selected from rich and 

 long-wooUed animals, was used for the formation of a fine comb- 

 wool breed and was bred on pure by itself from 1830 to 1841. 

 A comb-wool buck fi'om the flock of Count Schwerin, with long, 

 slender, glossy wool, was bought in 1843 — whence the present 

 comb-wool flock of 200 ewes proceeded. They intend to reduce 

 this flock also, on account of the slow sale of the wool. 



A third part of the Justingers, from long-woolled animals, 

 was crossed with the long-woolled and mutton English Leicester 

 bucks. From that cross came what they call the English 

 Merinos, in 1830. In the beginning they used pure English 

 bucks, and in 1842, pure Leicesters. The yield of wool not 

 being satisfactory, they put the ewes in- 1847 and 1848 to comb- 

 wool bucks. In 1854, this flock, which never much exceeded 

 20 ewes, distinguished by its broad build, was mixed with the 

 newly-founded cross-breed, as already mentioned. The prin- 

 ciples of breeding adopted in the management of this flock had 

 in view the weight of fleece, and weight of body first, with the 

 Electorals fine wool, with the comb-wool breed quantity with 

 softness or pliancy, and strength and gloss. All three flocks 

 are folded, and were put together on the 1st of August, 1862. 



The lambs are all numbered by notches and holes in the ears, 

 a few days after they are dropped. A register is kept. Males 

 are used for breeding at a year and a half old, females, at two 

 and a half. A buck usually serves not over 50 and is never 

 allowed over 75 ewes. 



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