36 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



though the day is, I look to see them overspread the 

 farms of the cornbelt and have classes at state fairs 

 and at the International. Certain it is that if their 

 breeders shake off their apathy and begin to let the 

 world know the value of their breed, as have the 

 breeders of Shropshires, Dorsets, Hampshires and 

 Eambouillets, the Blacktops and Delaines will yet 

 come into their own. 



The reader may here well inquire, Which is the 

 best of the Merinos for me to breed, the one with 

 most profit? 



The best Merinos are the Rambouillets, especially 

 when of the Von Homeyer type. Large, strong 

 mothers and good milkers, good shearers and hardy, 

 they would seem to surpass all Merinos and rival 

 the English breeds. For use on the ranges they 

 are clearly the best, as there a large, strong sheep, 

 able to travel far, is needed. On the farm it is nip 

 and tuck in point of profit between the Eambouillet 

 and the Blacktop and Delaine types. The Blacktop 

 breeders claim, with considerable evidence, that 

 their sheep consume far less feed, shear better and 

 their lambs mature earlier than Eambouillets. I 

 think the claim that the Eambouillets require more 

 feed than other Merinos is well founded; it is in- 

 deed the product of high feeding for many years. It 

 is assuredly true that the massive Rambouillet has 

 not been able to displace the little Blacktop on the 

 farms of Michigan. Even when a splendid flock of 

 Eambouillets might be surrounded by flocks of 

 Blacktops, the two types seemed rarely interbred. 



