EAST OP THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



391 



particularly the increasing amount of yolk in the wool suggested a more 

 correct standard of measurement, such a standard as would determine 

 the absolute weight of a fleece when thoroughly cleaned as wool is 

 cleansed by the manufacturers. To this end D. D. T. Moore, of the 

 liural New Yorker, offered a premium of $50 "for the fleece of one year's 

 growth or thereabouts, which, on being cleaned, shall be found to give 

 the greatest weight of wool, in proportion to its time of growth and to 

 the live weight of the animal." There were fifteen entries, one of which 

 was a ( 'otswold ewe. The shearing and scouring took place at Canan- 

 daigua May 11, 1865, and the result was thus tabulated in order of 

 merit : 



Years. 



tDays. 



I By 1 pound of animal in a year. 



It will be observed that the small sheep had greatly the advantage 

 in the contest, not that the very smallest sheep proved the winner, but 

 the rule in the main was proven true that small sheep, having more 

 surface in proportion to their weight, give more wool per pound of 

 body; from which the judges who made the award drew the conclusion 

 that for the mere purpose of wool-growing very large sheep were not 

 desirable. 



