EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



393 



tion to time of growth and weight of carcass, and the competition was 



;i> follows: 



These weights show that from 1865 to 1867 the sheep of western New 

 York sheared double the weight in cleansed wool that they did in 1830. 

 The improvement in that direction continued. 



At a sheep-shearing in Ontario County, June, 1868, 11 ewes one year 

 old, whose aggregate weight was 568 pounds, sheared 130J pounds of 

 wool, an average per head of ll-fr pounds. Seven ewes, two years old 

 and over, whose aggregate weight was 450J pounds, sheared 84 pounds, 

 an average per head of 12 pounds 5 the greatest was 13 pounds 11 J 

 ounces. Two yearling rams whose weights were 101J and 97J pounds 

 gave, respectively, 16 pounds> 9 ounces and 18 pounds 3 ounces of wool. 

 Eleven rams two years old and over, whose aggregate weight was 1,314J 

 pounds, sheared 217 pounds 10 ounces, or an average of 19 pounds 12J 

 ounces per head. The heaviest fleece was 25 pounds, and two others 

 weighed 24J and 23J pounds. All the fleeces were unwashed. 



The shearings of 1869 showed some remarkable results. That of the 

 Ontario and Livingston County Wool-Growers' Association was recorded 

 with considerable minuteness. Five sheep were shorn: 



The three-year old ram shearing 9 pounds 3 ounces of scoured wool 

 was the property of Levi Noble, and the first Merino sheep on record as 

 yielding 9 pounds of scoured wool. The wool was well scoured by 

 manufacturers who used wool for heavy cassiineres, fine cloth, flannels, 

 and stocking yarns, mostly for customers. 



