280 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



carcass weight from 70 to 80 pounds each. The lambs are generally fit 

 for the butcher from ten to twelve weeks old, when they average from 

 12 to 14 pounds per quarter. The rams clip from 10 to 12 pounds of 

 wool, the ewes from 5 to 6 pounds, and the lambs, which are usually 

 shorn, yield about half as much as the ewes. The wool of the lambs 

 is in great demand. 



The Dorset Horns were first known in the United States in the fall of 

 1885, when Messrs. E. and A. Stanford, of England, exhibited a small 

 flock at the Chicago fat-stock show. The first owned in the United 

 States were purchased by William Daley, of Lockport, N. Y., of Valancey 

 E. Fuller, of Canada, in March, 1887, and the first direct importation from 

 England was of 12 head by Adin Thayer, of New York, in June, 1887. 

 The importations of 1887 did not exceed 200 head. The first importation 

 into Connecticut was June 1, 1891, by George E. Jones, of Litchfield, 

 the importation being 108 head in number, from the flocks of William 

 Mayo, and again, September 5, 1891, of 85 head from the flocks of W. 

 H. Groves, W. S. Hull, and John Jarrett. These sheep are described 

 as straight and deep in body, ribs well arched, loins broad, and neck 

 well set on, full in the shoulders, without coarseness, the hind limbs 

 well let down toward the shank, forming a good leg of mutton. The 

 general features are pleasing, head well up, horns thin with a symmet- 

 rical curl, eye bright and lively j the face rather long and thin, lip and 

 nose pink or flesh colored, the bone small, giving all the appearance of 

 a useful and hardy breed of sheep; color pure white. The rams weigh 

 from 200 to 300 pounds; ewes, from 150 to 200 pounds. Mr. Jones' 

 ewes gave 190 -per cent of lambs. 



RHODE ISLAND. 



From the importation of Capt. Paul Cuffe and Isaac Cory into New- 

 port, early in September, 1810, of 74 Merino rams and ewes, shipped by 

 William Jar vis, at Lisbon, came the foundation of the flocks of David 

 Buffum and William I. Bailey, and of their neighbor, George Irish. 

 These Newport farmers had adjoining farms, and on that of the first 

 the cargo of sheep was disposed of September 21, 1810. These flocks 

 were kept up many years, were noted for their great excellence, and 

 were freely drawn upon by many of the noted breeders of Connecticut 

 and Vermont, among whom may be mentioned Edwin Hammond, A. 

 L. Bingham, E. T. Robinson, and Mr. Bundy. About 1835 Joseph I. 

 Bailey, who had succeeded to the flock of William I. Bailey, sold out to 

 parties in Vermont, who took the sheep, about 150 in number, to Whit- 

 ing, where a portion of them, passing through two other hands, fell 

 into possession of German and David Catting, and infused into Ver- 

 mont Merinos what is known as the Cutting or Ehode Island blood. 

 Among others who had full-blooded Merino sheep as early as 1812 may 

 be mentioned George P. Hazard and Joseph Congdon. The Rhode 

 Island Merinos bore such a good reputation and were so eagerly sought 



