66 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



Four ewes of the same Arlington Improved were shown and received 

 prizes. Two, owned by Mr. Daingerfield, weighed each 98J and 89| 

 pounds, and sheared respectively 5 pounds and 8 pounds 12 ounces of 

 unwashed wool. Two owned by L. Lewis weighed 60f and 75 pounds 

 each, and sheared respectively 4 pounds 8 ounces and 4 pounds 1 ounce 

 of washed wool. 



The shearings at Arlington were continued for a few years, when the 

 thieves and dogs made such havoc with Custis's beautiful flock that it 

 was reduced to two. These, in the language of the owner, " long ranged 

 over the hills of Arlington in solitary state." 



The imported Persian rani and ewe purchased by Mr. Custis at the 

 sale of Washington's stock in 1802 both died at Arlington, leaving for 

 breeding in fact but one pure-bred ram, which was sent to the estate of 

 George Oalvert, at Eiverdale, near Bladensburg, Md. Calvert bred 

 from this and raised some very fine sheep, and we find that in May, 

 1812, the Columbian Agricultural Society, at Georgetown, awarded him 

 a premium of $60 for the best two-toothed ram lamb of the long-wooled 

 breed, for his ram lamb of the Persian breed crossed on the sheep of the 

 country. 



While it is true that no full-blooded descendants of the Arlington 

 sheep are now known, it is nevertheless the fcict that they did much to 

 improve the sheep of Virginia and have left their traces, distinct and 

 healthy in some cases, but generally showing a deterioration unless 

 crossed with modern improved breeds. A writer in Niles's Eegister, in 

 1814, states that Mr. Custis, of New Kent, Va., had recently sheared 

 from the backs of two sheep of the Arlington long-wooled sheep, 21 

 pounds and 2 ounces of excellent wool, for which he deserved great 

 praise for his perseverance and attention to this most useful breed of 

 sheep, " of far more importance than the Merino as bearing wool of the 

 proper quality for the ordinary clothing of the people at large, blankets, 

 etc." 



Another locality in Virginia where the Arlington sheep attained much 

 popularity was in Loudoun Valley and Shenandoah Valley, and it main- 

 tained its position for many years, and in 1824 it was, with the Merino 

 and Tunis sheep, considered as most noted and valuable. There is 

 preserved an account of a sheep- shearing in 1824, in the Shenandoah 

 Valley: 



Pounds. 



9 fleeces full blood or seven-eighths Merino 58f 



8 fleeces Arlington long-wool, cross 73| 



8 fleeces Arlington long-wool cross 553. 



8 fleeces Arlington long-wool cross 66f 



8 fleeces Arlington long-wool cross 56f 



8 fleeces Arlington long-wool cross 62^ 



49 374^ 



Average weight of the Merino fleeces 6J pounds, unwashed; average 

 weight of the Arlington long-wool cross, 7/ - pounds, unwashed. 



