THE FINE-WOOL BREEDS 37 



For all that, the Eambouillets are a splendid breed 

 and well capable of making great profit. They are 

 little less resistant to parasites than the Delaines 

 and Blacktops, needing a little more feed and do not 

 shear proportionally quite so much wool. 



Delaines differ greatly. There are breeders who 

 do not hesitate to slip into them a dash of American 

 Merino or of Eambouillet blood. It is to be feared 

 that either course would bring confusion in the long- 

 run. The American Merino blood would lessen pro- 

 lificacy and the feeding powers of the sheep. The 

 heaviest-shearing Blacktops and Delaines have not 

 the greatest possibilities for profits for the farmer. 

 There must be a happy mean between production of 

 wool and flesh ; with markets as they now are the fat 

 lamb far outbalances the heavy fleece. 



KAMBOUILLETS. 



Nearly two centuries ago the French government 

 began importing Merino ewes from Spain and then 

 was laid the foundation of the breed that is called 

 the "French Merino, " or "Eambouillet," after the 

 village in France where the stud flock has been kept. 

 With different feeds, different ideals and selection, 

 the breed has become quite different from the other 

 families of Merinos, having much greater size and 

 a different type of wool, with coarser fiber, though 

 yet a Merino wool. 



The Eambouillet is perhaps the most popular to- 

 day of all the Merinos, great numbers being found 

 on the western ranges where there are also great 



