EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 317 



Subsequently Mr. Chapman procured samples of the finest Silesian 

 wool, one from a ram and one from a ewe. These, with samples 

 from a Merino ram and ewe, were placed in the hands of Prof. William 

 McMiirtrie, of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, who after careful 

 measurement reported the results in fractions of an inch: 



Silesian ram, average of 120 measurements 

 Improved Merino ram, average of 120 measurements 

 Silesian ewe, average of 120 measurements 

 Improved Merino ewe, average of 120 measurements 



Each lock of the four had twenty-five crimps to the inch. As the 

 Silesian sheep are generally considered as among the very finest in point 

 of wool the close rivalry speaks volumes for the Vermont Merino. 



There has also been an improvement in the evenness and strength of 

 the fiber. It was not many years ago that the outer end of the wool 

 fiber was coarser than the rest of the fleece. Now this defect is bred 

 out and the fiber has a uniform thickness throughout, and there is also 

 a greater uniformity of fleece from all parts of the body even to the wool 

 on the folds or wrinkles. 



The length of staple of the sheep shown by George Campbell at 

 Hamburg in 1803, was from 3J to 2f inches. The average length of 

 staple of the Vermont fleeces taken to the Paris Exposition in 1878 was 

 3J inches. Some of them measured 4J inches. At a sheep-shearing at 

 Middlebury, Vt.,in 1882, oof the sheep shorn measured in length 3 inches; 

 17, 3J inches; 10, 3J inches; 9, 3| inches; 2, 4 inches; 1, 4J inches; 

 2, 4J inches, and 2, 4J inches. The 48 averaged a little over 3J inches. 

 The average increase in length of staple during half a century of im- 

 provement is estimated at not less than 35 per cent. 



Length of staple, however, is not compatible with weight and thick- 

 ness of fleece, and it has been found that few of the rams or ewes yield- 

 ing the heaviest fleeces have a staple of more than average length. The 

 ram that has furnished the very heaviest fleece published is reported 

 as growing the shortest staple of any of the heavy shearing rams 

 recorded. The Vermont breeders do not encourage length of staple, 

 believing that increased length is obtained at the expense of weight 

 of fleece by a diminution of its thickness, and while not recommending 

 breeding for a shorter staple they express an opinion that great weight 

 of fleece can not be attained by breeding for excessive length of staple, 

 and that breeding from rams of medium length and great density will 

 increase the weight of fleece much faster than breeding from rams of 

 longer staple but thinner wool. 



There was, at first, a breeding toward diversity in the flocks, but the 

 tendency now is to uniformity, most breeders differing but little as to the 

 most desirable type and points of excellence. All breed heavy fleeces, 

 uniform and of fine quality, and a vigorous constitution. 



There is that about the soil and climate of Vermont that seems pecul- 

 iarly favorable to the growth and rearing of Merino sheep, or, as happily 





