334 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



Kent had a flock, of whichit was said in 1828 that he " sheared successfully 

 from the same flock of Merinos. The wool improved progressively, that 

 of the last year comparing favorably with Saxon. He selected each 

 year after shearing the best formed and finest wooled rams and pre- 

 served them to run with the flock." Notwithstanding a majority of the 

 people were more directly engaged in shipping and industries connected 

 therewith, and that manufactures demanding wool received but little 

 encouragement from the leading men, there were many sheep of the 

 Merino blood in the State in 1830. At that time there were native 

 breeds, over 6 months old, 275,452; Merino or mixed breeds, over 6 

 months old, 91,524, or a total of 466,976 sheep, producing an estimated 

 clip of 1,400,000 pounds of wool. This was thought by some to be too 

 low a figure, that the Merino and mixed breed were in larger pro- 

 portion to the whole number, and that the clip exceeded 1,500,000 

 pounds. The cost of keeping sheep at that time was $1.25 per head 

 yearly. 



The open and rainy winters of 1829-'30-'31 were very disastrous to 

 the Merinos, and many of the best flocks in the State suffered so badly 

 that the farmers gave them up. Some were disposed of to the butchers, 

 while others were allowed to run with the common sheep and dete- 

 riorate. 



The first Merinos in Maine were Paulars, though some others were 

 occasionally found. They were much better than many found in 1845. 

 The deterioration from 1812 to 1845 was caused by want of attention in 

 breeding and the unfortunate cross with the Saxons from 1826 to 1840. 

 Many farmers, however, steadily kept to the Spanish Merino. The 

 average fleece in 1845 was 3 pounds, but some flocks came up to 4 

 pounds ; these, however, were not very plenty. 



Maine did not escape the Saxony infatuation. These sheep were first 

 introduced into the State by Judge W. A. Hayes, of York county, and 

 they were generally crossed upon the Spanish Merino. By this mix- 

 ture the fleece became finer but it diminished in weight and the cross 

 became less hardy. On account of this enfeeblement many farmers 

 began to raise other breeds which were more hardy and better fitted 

 for the production of mutton and coarser wool, and took advantage 

 of the English breeds then coming into the State. In 1828 the Leices- 

 ters were brought into the State by Dr. E. Holmes, from the flock of 

 Stephen Williams, of Northboro, Mass.; the first Southdowns by 

 Charles Vaughan in 1834, and the first Cotswolds by Dr. Holmes in 

 1844, from the flock of Corning & Sotham, Albany, N. Y. In 

 1842 many gentlemen of Kennebec County introduced Vermont 

 Merinos from the flock of S. W. Jewett, and crossed them with their 

 own grade Merino and common flocks, followed shortly after by the 

 French Merino and the Silesian, and this county long retained some 

 excellent fine wooled sheep, although fluctuations in prices were not 

 encouraging to the growth of wool. A cross between the Southdown 



