462 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



grasses, it failed to attain any importance in the farm economy of the 

 State, primarily because of the depredations committed by dogs, second- 

 arily that raising lambs and mutton for market paid better. The seces- 

 sion of the State in 1861, by throwing the eastern portion under the 

 tread of large armies, was destructive to sheep of all kinds, and the 

 years subsequent to the great war have seen no extended revival of 

 the fine- wool industry. Some few flocks of Merinos, it is true, have 

 been formed, but their output is scarcely appreciable. The largest of 

 the kind in Virginia east of the Alleghanies in 1877 was that of Logan 

 Osburu, Jefferson County, W. Va. He began building up a flock in 

 1872 from about 100 grade ewes three-fourths Merino, breeding them to 

 a thoroughbred Spanish Merino rani. The fleeces of the first year's 

 clip averaged 5 pounds each in the dirt. But care and attention and 

 crossing with good rams increased both the length and strength of the 

 staple and carried the fleece to an average of 6 pounds back- washed 

 wool in 1877. His improvement did not stop here; the weight was car- 

 ried up to 7 pounds and the wool realized the very highest prices and 

 was much sought after by Eastern buyers. In 1888 Mr. Osb urn's flock 

 numbered nearly 1,700, and the clip netted the owner $4,000. The sheep 

 are at least one- third larger than the Spanish Merino from which they 

 sprung, and have increased in length of staple and weight of fleece at 

 least one- third. There are other Merino flocks in that section of Vir- 

 ginia, and the success attending them, when properly cared for, dem- 

 onstrates the capability of the country for fine-wool culture, as it has 

 long been known for its excellent mutton. But Virginia proper, as cir- 

 cumscribed by the events of war, is not a fine- wool growing State. 



The people of Virginia are, and have been for a longer period than else- 

 where, great lovers of choice mutton. They began its improvement very 

 early and have continued it. The old Arlington long-wools and Fred- 

 erick sheep lingered long in many localities. The Southdowns followed 

 the old Leicester and the new, and many were brought into the State from 

 New York and by direct importation from England. Rezin D. Shepherd, 

 of Shepherdstown, imported some Leicesters in 1838, and in 1841 Hon. 

 Andrew Stevenson, then minister to England, and Bishop Meade, of Vir- 

 ginia, imported 3 Southdowns each a ram and 2 ewes. These were se- 

 lected from the stock of Jonas Webb, and 100 guineas were paid for the 

 3 that were presented to the bishop. The bishop's Southdown ram 

 weighed 249 pounds; Mr. Stevenson's 254 pounds. Col. Josiah W. 

 Ware, of Berryville, Clarke County, was an importer of the improved 

 Cotswolds or New Oxfordshire as early as 1848, in which year he pur- 

 chased 2 ewes that had taken the prize at the royal show at York. 

 In 1849 he purchased 5 of the ewes that took the prize at Norwich, all 

 tupped by a ram weighing 420 pounds that had taken the royal prize 

 in 1847. He purchased of Charles Large. Northbeach, and none but 

 prize sheep. In giving an account of his Cotswolds in 1855, Col. Ware 

 said that originally he had a good flock of sheep, but found, beside the 



