494 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



section, and in time developed into the well-known Black-Top Spanish 

 Merino, so called in reference to their dark coats in contrast with the 

 lighter-colored Saxons and their progeny. The flock was bred in fam- 

 ilies at first, and afterwards crossed from one family to another 5 and in 

 that way the evils of direct continuous in-and-in breeding were avoided. 

 At the time this flock was formed, throughout the greater portion of 

 the country the attention of breeders was principally given to wool cul- 

 ture $ but by reason of a fancy for large sheep, as well as the growing 

 demand for mutton in his neighborhood, Mr. Berry endeavored to pro- 

 duce a larger sheep, and to that end gave much of his attention, deter- 

 mined, if possible, to secure a good mutton sheep that would retain all 

 the excellencies of the fine-wooled Merino. By careful and judicious 

 selection, with a view to strong, healthy body, hardy constitution, and 

 active animal vigor, he not only increased the size of his Merinos but 

 added to the quantity and quality of their wool, and as the result of his 

 years of care and patient labor he had the satisfaction of securing a 

 sheep fully up to his ideas of size, of strong, healthy, well-rounded and 

 compact body, which possessed superior qualities as a mutton producer, 

 and bore a heavy fleece of the finest delaine wool. During his experi- 

 ments Mr. Berry found that the darker sheep were the larger, and made 

 the best records as breeders and wool producers. This was especially 

 noticeable in the rams. It was also observed that the darker sheep had 

 the hardiest constitutions and greatest animal vigor, were less affected 

 by the severe changes of the climate, and could endure the winters and 

 rough weather much better than those of a lighter color. 



This flock was bred by Mr. Berry until in 1847 it numbered about 500, 

 when it was equally divided between his two sons, and the one-half 

 going to Matthew Berry still survives at Houstonville, Pa. Eegarding 

 these sheep it is said they have never been closely housed or protected 

 from summer rains, but have received only good care throughout the 

 season. The aim was, and still is, to produce a sheep with a fine, long 

 staple of nice, white wool; of good style and covering the sheep quite 

 well, but not so low down on the legs as some other families of Merinos. 

 It is not claimed by the breeders that this is a new family or breed of 

 sheep, but on the other hand that it is the oldest pure-bred family in the 

 country of its adoption. It is, however, given a separate class, and 

 thus recognized as a distinct family, and the Black-Top Spanish Merino 

 has a Register, and its breeders have adopted a standard by which it 

 shall be judged. 



Standard or scale of points of the Black-Top Spanish Merino. 



Points. 



Constitution 15 



Size 12 



General appearance 3 



Points. 



Covering .......................... 8 



Quality of fleece ................... 7 



Density of fleece ................... 7 



Length of staple 



Body 15 



Head 5 | Oil 6 



Neck 4 



Legs and feet . . , , ; . , , , , . . 10 



Perfection ...,,,,,. ,,,,,, 100 



