64 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



At the fair of tliis society held at Georgetown, May 15, 1811, five can- 

 didates entered for the premium for fine-wooled sheep. 



These were all of the Merino breed, and the weight of fleece is given 

 as unwashed. The premium for the best was awarded to Mason's Po- 

 tomac Chief, of Humphreys breed, and the second premium to Brooks's 

 Hopewell, a half blood Merino ram of Dupont's breed. 



The candidates for the long-wooled premiums were seven in number: 



Mr. Marbury's ram lamb, 160 pounds, washed ; fleece, 7 pounds 6 ounces. 

 Mr. Gibson's ram lamb, 130 pounds, unwashed; fleece, 7 pounds 6 ounces. 

 William Bowie's ram lamb, 121 pounds, washed ; fleece, 11 pounds 12 ounces. 

 Bazil Darby's ram lamb, 131 pounds, washed; fleece, 9 pounds 5 ounces. 

 I. Duckett's ram lamb, 111 pounds, washed; fleece, 8 pounds 12 ounces. 

 I. Duckett's ram lamb, 121 pounds, washed ; fleece, 8 pounds 9 ounces. 

 Gibson's Pizarro, ram lamb, 120J pounds, unwashed; fleece, 7 pounds. 



Jacob Gibson received the first premium for a two-toothed ram lamb 

 of long-wooled breed for his long-wooled ram Pizarro of the Calvert 

 County breed. The second premium of $40 for a two-toothed ram lamb 

 of the long-wooled breed was awarded to William Bowie, of Prince 

 George County, Maryland, for his long-wooled ram of the common 

 breed. 



At the fair of the same society held May 22, 1812, the premiums for 

 the long-wooled sheep were awarded to Calvert's lamb weighing 108 

 pounds, with a fleece of 12 pounds ounces, and to William Marbury 

 for a sheep weighing 157 pounds 8 ounces, carrying a fleece of 11 pounds 

 14 ounces. 



From this digression to the sheep of his neighbors we return partic- 

 ularly to those of Mr. Custis, of Arlington. In the improvement of his 

 sheep Mr. Custis tells us that he had in view the most wool for the least 

 flesh, and bred upon that idea. Wool being in his eye the national, the 

 patriotic, the useful object in view, all other considerations gave place 

 to its superior merits, and he strictly adhered to the principle that the 

 sheep which yielded most wool for least body was the best and most desir- 

 able animal for the country. To the argument that he should abandon 

 this idea and give more size to his stock he replied: "He that breeds 

 beyond his pasturage is like him that lives beyond his income, and in- 

 vites ruin upon himself and his descendants." His pasturage, though 

 indifferent, was yet better than most, and its situation admirably adapted 

 to sheep by possessing variety and soundness, and hills which afforded 

 good places for repose. Bakewell, the premium ram of 1805, used by 

 Mr. Custis after that date, weighed 150 pounds, and yielded 12 pounds 



