144 



SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



of July, 1810, gives the result of this shearing in more detail, which we ; 

 quote: . j 



The circumstances worthy of note in my sheep-shearing are the following : First, 

 the general improvement of my flock since last year. The whole Merino and mixed 

 sheep, when together, to wit, 200 ewes, gave an average of 6 ounces more than they 

 did last year. The full-blood ewes gave an average of 11 ounces more without any 

 difference in their keeping. This I attribute to an improvement in the stock, since 

 there was no change in the old ewes, but the whole gain was upon the young ewes. 

 Had half-blood ewes been withdrawn and the average taken only on the other half, 

 it would have amounted to about 7 pounds, free from tags, though all these ewes 

 had lambs, and I have no doubt, therefore, that when my number shall be sufficient 

 to enable me to select my ewes as I have my rams, that I shall make the general 

 average of the flock at least 7 pounds and greatly improve the quality of the fleeces. 



Price at which the wool sold, 



Half-blood, or first cross $0. 75 



Three-fourths blood, or second cross 1. 25 



Seven-eighths blood, or third cross 1. 50 



Full blood 2. 00 



All sold unwashed. That your friends may see that we are not totally void of 



the spirit of enterprise in the United States, I subjoin the price at which my lambs 



sold: 



4 full-bred ram lambs $4,000 



14 fifteen-sixteenths ram lambs 3,500 



20 seven-eighths ram lambs 2,000 



30 three-fourths ram lambs 900 



These were all I chose to sell, as I am extending my own flock, and, therefore, 

 parted with no ewes, and reserved nine full-blood rams for my own use. My half- 

 bred lambs, having come late, were not yet exposed to sale ; a few, however, have 

 been since sold at $12.50 each. The ewe lambs of the low grades are considered as of 

 twice the value of the rams. Had these lambs been a year old, so as to be fit for 

 covering this season, they would have sold 50 per cent higher. Five hundred dol- 

 lars was offered and refused for a fifteenth-sixteenths I sold last year at $125. My 

 sheep-shearing was attended by upwards of 200 respectable gentlemen farmers from 

 this and the neighboring States, and all the fleeces were weighed, as shorn, in their 

 presence. 



From the ardor which my countrymen manifest in this pursuit, I doubt not 



