EAST OP THE "MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 351 



each county a measure also recommended by the governor of X 

 Hampshire at the next session of its legislature. In 1810 the county 

 premium for domestic cloth was given to that made from the wool of 

 Mr. Cleaveland's quarter-bred lambs. 



About this time also a Mr. Merritt, of Troy, who owned a large tract 

 of land in the county, placed upon it a considerable flock which was de- 

 rived from the Humphreys stock. This flock was managed after the 

 Spanish mode. Two shepherds who had been educated to the business, 

 accompanied with their dogs, were in constant attendance upon the 

 flock, and many persons from the surrounding country were attracted 

 by the novelty of their dress and employment to pay them a visit. This 

 flock was soon disposed of, and many of them went to the formation of 

 the Wilkinson flock, which, for so many years, sustained such a high 

 reputation. 



Thus from the Humphreys importation a portion of the Merino blood 

 went into \Yashington County at an early day. At first, however, 

 efforts were confined only to the rearing of grade sheep. Animals of 

 pure blood were too scarce in the county and commanded too high a 

 price to be within the reach of ordinary farmers } but an avenue was 

 soon opened to the procurement of full-blood Merinos* 



Robert Prince, who had purchased some of the Jarvis importation, 

 had a son engaged in business at Salem, and through this son Alexan- 

 der McNish was induced to engage in the business of raising fine- 

 wooled sheep. A contract was made between Robert Prince and Mr. 

 McNish, which, as it contains the element of what was then regarded* 

 as the most essential point in the management of the Merinos and what 

 was deemed equitable terms for letting them, is here stated on the 

 authority of Asa Fitch, and substantially in his language.* Mr. Prince 

 agreed to furnish a ram and two ewes, warranted to be full-blooded 

 Merino, and Mr. McMsh was to furnish one hundred common ewes, and 

 be at the expense of keeping and managing the flock for the period of 

 seven years. The ram was not to be turned in with the ewes before 

 the 1st of November, and the lambs were to be weaned or separated 

 from the ewes on the 1st of September. On the 1st day of June, annu- 

 ally, half of the wool was to be given to Mr. Prince. At the end of the 

 first year the hundred common ewes were to be sold and half the pro- 

 ceeds thereof paid to Mr. Prince, and the breeding continued with the 

 full-blood ram and the half-blood ewes. The buck lambs were to be 

 annually divided on the 1st of September, and each party was there- 

 after to take charge of his own half of these. If either of the three 

 full-bloods died or became imbecile, another was to be furnished by 

 Mr. Prince to supply its place. At the end of the seven years the flock 

 that was then existing was to be equally divided. 



For the three imported sheep by which Mr. Prince was to fulfill his 



* Survey of Washington County, in Transactions of New York Agricultural Society, 

 1849. 



