364 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



armually for six years and $3 would be left as the net profit upon each 

 sheep for a period of six years, or 50 cents a year net profit. It can not 

 be doubted that the experience of every breeder at that time, similarly 

 situated, was of the same character. From which it would appear that 

 a flock of 1,000 Merino sheep gave a return of only $500 per annum to the 

 owner, net profit, which was a very inconsiderable sum, in view of 

 the rent, risk, and anxious personal attention. These conclusions were 

 familiar to our authority long before he had the courage to determine 

 upon encountering the forbidden task of remodeling a large flock of 

 sheep, and of changing a breed to which he was partial from the fine- 

 ness of its wool, and from the remembrance of the great value it bore 

 when he first engaged in it. No one but an extensive practical farmer 

 can form an idea of the labor, care, and strict attention attending such 

 an operation, particularly where the new breed itself was yet to be 

 created. It was obvious, however, that the great defect in the Merino 

 sheep, as concerned those near New York City or other large markets, 

 was in the want of carcass. The object then was to raise a breed of 

 sheep with a sufficient weight of carcass to insure the best prices in the 

 large markets, and to have the wool of a sufficient degree of fineness to 

 insure a prompt sale. Attention was turned, therefore, to the New 

 Leicester sheep, remarkable for its weight of carcass and fleece, and to 

 the Southdowns, a breed celebrated for a fine carcass with a moderate 

 fleece of fine wool. But all attempts to procure these sheep from 

 England failed, from the rigor of the laws which prevented their ex- 

 portation. Eecourse was then had to another breed which, by a happy 

 accident, had been introduced into the State of New York. They were 

 mixed Leicester and Teeswater, were only three in number on their ar- 

 rival, but they fell into the hands of persons who knew their value, and 

 had been judiciously and successfully increased in number. These 

 sheep at a ripe age, rising three years, weighed from 25 to 30 pounds a 

 quarter. The mutton was extremely fat, and by high feeding could be 

 carried to 40 and 50 pounds. The fleece was rather coarse, but clipped 

 7 to 12 pounds when in condition, and was sometimes carried so high 

 in Great Britain that entire flocks averaged 12 pounds per head. When 

 breeders turned their attention to increasing the fleece the amount car- 

 ried by these sheep was almost incredible. 



But these mixed Liecester and Teeswater sheep were so few in num- 

 ber and held so high that it was impracticable to adopt them ; it would 

 have been an endless task to await the time required to form a large 

 flock, and besides the wool was very coarse and not fitted for any sort 

 of manufactures then prevailing. And the most experienced butchers 

 admitted that the high prices given for some of these sheep was prin- 

 cipally on account of the novelty of the breed, and to encourage the 

 holders; but that mutton of 25 pounds a quarter was riot likely to pre- 

 vail in our markets, being too gross for genteel tables, and would prob- 

 ably never become a staple commodity among the laboring classes, who 



