486 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



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other western territory, and many of them were Merinos. A letter fro 

 Bobbstown, Westmoreland County, published December 4, 1811, says 



From October 6 to November 6 (1811) 236 wagons and other wheeled carriages 

 passed through this place to Ohio with families with 4 of the small wagons were 60 

 persons within the same time 600 Merinos passed in the same direction. 



This gives but a faint idea of the continuous movement. Along its 

 trail were left lame and worn-out, exhausted sheep, singly, in pairs, and 

 by the score. Where it was possible they were sold to the settlers or 

 the route 5 when they could not be sold a meal, lodging or something 

 else was taken in exchange. Some were left behind without recom-| 

 pense; in any event many sheep were thus distributed to the great gain ] 

 of that section of country. 



In 1817 several hundred Merinos were taken to Meadville, Pa., byi 

 Judge Griffiths, of New Jersey, and H. J. Huidekoper, agent of thej 

 Holland Land Company, and became the source of many fine flocks in] 

 Crawford County. 



The crossing of these full-blood and high-grade Spanish Merinos oil 

 the hardy, common sheep of the pioneers produced an excellent wool-j 

 growing sheep over all western Pennsylvania, and farmers made great] 

 improvement in them, and raised many full -blood and grade flocks. 

 From 1827 to 1835 the Saxony sheep and their grades were introduced, 

 chiefly from the flocks of Wells and Dickinson, of Steubenville, Ohio. 

 This cross reduced the weight of fleece without a corresponding increase) 

 in price. From 1845 to 1850 efforts were made to remedy this deficiency! 

 in the fleece by the use of full-blooded Spanish or French Merino rains.] 

 The latter were at first preferred and in 1848 some were introduced. The] 

 opinion was entertained by most breeders that the French Merino would' 

 make a fine cross with the Saxon and Spanish. Merino flocks. They; 

 were heavy -boned, rough built and in no way handsome, but of large] 

 vigorous frames, the rams weighing at four years old 150 to 175 pounds] 

 gross or live weight. The wool was not fine but of rather a harsh char- 

 acter. These sheep attracted considerable attention, but a fair trial in! 

 several flocks led to their condemnation. They greatly injured the wool! 

 of every flock into which they were introduced and growers disposed of 

 the produce as early as possible and eliminated the blood from their] 

 flocks. They were not only hard to keep but required more feed bjj 

 about one-fourth than the Saxon or Spanish Merino. The rams cutj 

 about 8 pounds of wool, when washed on the sheep, and the ewes 4J 

 pounds. Among the very few who stuck to a small flock of these sheep] 

 while nearly all were discarding them was John S. Goe, of Fayette 

 County, who determined to give them an exhaustive trial. We have! 

 the record of their shearings for three years. In 1856 2 rams gave 14| 

 and 15 pounds unwashed wool and 2 ewes 14f and 14J pounds. In 1857, 

 18 rams averaged 8 pounds washed wool. In 1859, 1 ram gave 22J 

 pounds of unwashed wool, and 8 ewes averaged 10J pounds. Two ewes 

 averaged 8J pounds washed on the back. At this shearing a Silesian 



