EAST OP THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 221 



the idea that large flocks could be crowded into and maintained upon 

 small fields, without turnips or other winter food, and then produce $8 

 or $10 worth of wool each*. But when peace came and prices fell and 

 experience had shown that the Merino would eat, he was denounced 

 for his destruction of grass lands and his voracity. His owner became 

 disgusted with him because he did not know how to manage him, and 

 sacrificed him as rashly as he had bought him. 



In reviewing this period of Merino sheep husbandry in Massachu- 

 setts, Mr. J. Lowell, at the first annual meeting of the Brighton Cattle 

 Show, in 1816, says : 



There probably never existed, in the history of nations, a people who were so liable 

 to push their national or accidental advantages as far as the people of the United 

 States. The state of our commerce, restricted alike by other nations, and the policy 

 now happily abandoned by our Government, favored the natural propensity of our 

 citizens to extend their speculations in the fine-wooled sheep to an extreme which 

 bordered on rashness, may we not say on delirium f The counteraction produced by 

 recent political events unforeseen, by the absurd manner in which this admirable 

 breed of sheep were attempted to be preternaturally forced into abundance, by the 

 want of skill and experience, most obviously distinguished, has threatened the de- 

 struction of one of the greatest blessings of this nature which our country ever en- 

 joyed. It is only necessary for sober and thinking men to recollect what was the 

 state of our flocks prior to the introduction of the Merino race. That it was imprac- 

 ticable for our manufacturers to rival any one nation in Europe in the finer fabrics, 

 and it will soon be seen that this fine-wooled breed was absolutely necessary to our 

 success as a manufacturing people. Great as the sacrifices have been, they are far 

 below the real value to the nation, and we have the pleasure, the patriotic gratifica- 

 tion on reflecting that the loss has not been a national one. It has been between 

 ourselves ; what one lost a more prudent citizen gained. 



In Massachusetts, as elsewhere, an argument urged by some against 

 the Merino sheep was its inferiority as an article of food. This reason 

 was combated by its supporters as being without foundation, its flesh 

 being described, when properly treated, as very juicy and toothsome. 

 However, this discussion was dropped when its superiority as a wool- 

 producer was apparent. When its wool was unsalable the discussion 

 was renewed, and among those who stepped forward to stem the tide 

 that was rapidly consigning these sheep to destruction as absolutely 

 worthless was Gorhain Parsons. Mr. Parsons owned a fine flock of 

 Merinos, and he began experiments upon some of them to discover how 

 far they could be carried as a mutton sheep. A ram lamb was yeaned 

 May 26, 1812, his sire and dam both being imported sheep. He was 

 castrated June 8, 1812, and allowed to run with the flock without 

 any extra feeding till December 19, 1815, and was then put by 

 himself for fattening and fed on second-crop hay, corn, oats, barley, 

 and meal, varied from time to time as best suited him. On April 23, 

 1816, he was killed, after showing 140 pounds live weight. The meat 

 when dressed for the butcher weighed 77J pounds, the rough tallow 13 

 pounds, the pelt with fleece 16 pounds j head, liver, heart, etc., 12 



