[288] 



in such a way as to destroy the sinuosities or undulations. The crimp of 

 the wool had 15.3 undulations per centimeter (39.25 per inch), and in hun- 

 dredths of millimetres, 2.16 diameter (1-1175 inch). Wool of the ewes 

 had 52.7 millimeters (2.07 inches) length of fibre, 39.8 crimps per inch' 

 2.06 mm. (1-1235 inch) diameter. 



10. In 1802 a new importation was made from Spain to Kambouillefc 

 numbering six bucks and forty ewes, as subjects for experiment, and as 

 terms of comparison with animals resulting from the first importation. 

 They were found inferior, and they do not appear to have been kept very 

 long. 



[NOTE. For the dates of 1860 and 1880 I shall substitute respectively 

 1867 and 1878 those of our last two universal expositions because in a 

 report to the minister I was called upon to make a comparison of the flocks 

 of these two epochs. This report will furnish me some precise figures upon 

 which I shall comment when indicating what may have been the condition 

 at the dates you mention.] 



IN 1867. 



11. The bucks weighed, with their fleece, 192.5 pounds. 



12. And the ewes 135.3 pounds, also with fleece included. 



13 and 14. The fleece of the bucks weighed in grease 11.77 pounds* 

 that of the ewes 9.13 pounds. In 1860 the animals must have been heavier 

 and the fleeces of less weight. 



In 1860 the lengths of fibre for the bucks was 2.29 inches, the crimp had 

 41 undulations per inch, and the diameter 1-1159 inch. For the ewes 

 these were respectively: length of fibre, 2.2; 45 undulations per inch and 

 1-1198 inch diameter. 



16. From 1840 the object was to produce Merinos of which the animals 

 were at the same time valuable for slaughtering and for the production of 

 wool. The fleece ceased to be the entirely predominating consideration 

 in the choice reproducing animals. The chief end was plump and well 

 developed forms, and by a rich regime, animals were obtained, about 1850, 

 having very large weight, but which were very exacting and less robust, 

 and the fleece of which was not in relation with this weight, either as to 

 quantity or quality of wool. 



17. The end in view the mutton, had almost destroyed the folds, which, 

 with the exception of a few subjects, scarcely comprised more than those 

 of the neck, and the result was to diminish the value of the animals in the 

 eyes of foreigners. Shortly after 1850 these errors were renounced and ef- 

 forts were made to bring the flock back to its true and ancient type, by 

 making choice more with regard to wool and repudiating the exaggeration 

 of development in the choice of reproducing animals, and the superabun- 

 dant and onerous feeding that had been practiced to attain this end. The 

 Negretti type again acquired importance and the folds they bore were no 

 longer excluded, but sought after rather as characteristics essential to ani- 



