CHAPTER IV. 



THE DISSEMINATION OF THE SPANISH MERINO THROUGHOUT NEW 

 ENGLAND THE PROGRESS OF THE FINE-WOOL INDUSTRY AND 

 ITS DECLINE. 



The dissemination of the Merino sheep throughout the United States 

 was not uniform in its character, nor was it universally encouraged. 

 There was, at first, a very general prejudice against them. The first 

 importations of Seth Adams, Dupont, Chancellor Livingston, and Col. 

 Humphreys attracted but little attention, and that mostly of an un- 

 favorable character. It was only when the necessity of our infant manu- 

 factures required fine wool that Merino sheep began to be appreciated, 

 and then in different degree by different sections of the country. New 

 England was given up to commerce; the Middle States to commerce 

 and agriculture; the South solely to agriculture. When the East saw 

 its commerce destroyed by foreign powers and the indifference, if not 

 hostility, of its own General Government, it turned its attention to manu- 

 factures, and from sheer necessity to the improvement of its wool, hence 

 it welcomed the advent of the Merino sheep. The Middle States saw 

 in these sheep the improvement of their agriculture and an aid to manu- 

 factures. The South was not committed to the improved sheep ; cotton 

 was its great staple and manufactures but slightly favored. We pro- 

 pose to note the introduction of these sheep into the various States east 

 of the Mississippi River, the formation and history of some of the early 

 and most noted breeding flocks, and the progress of the fine wool in- 

 dustry, beginning with the New England States. 



MASSACHUSETTS. 



The first flock of Merino sheep that was founded in the United States 

 was by Seth Adams, at Dorchester, Mass., in 1801, the foundation be- 

 ing a single pair imported from France in October of that year. Mr. 

 Adams bred some pure bloods from this pair and some crosses on the 

 common sheep. In 1807 he removed to Muskingum County, Ohio, tak- 

 ing 20 to 30 sheep with him, and bred pure, selling to various parties 

 in Ohio and Kentucky. No sheep of the State now trace a pedigree 

 to his flock, and as far as known no flock of his blood was left in Mas- 

 sachusetts after his removal, although half-blood and other grades were, 



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