I-: AST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 501 



Washington, Pa., a lot of line-wool sheep, descendants of the Meade 

 importation. They were of medium size, with a fleece weighing about 

 1U pounds, but the staple was very fine. About 1830 he purchased a 

 lot of fine-wool sheep of Greorge Murray, being also descendants of the 

 Meade importation. These sheep were medium size with fine staple. 

 About 1840 he purchased of James and Thomas Kalston their entire 

 flock, which they called the Dickinson stock, having a weight of fleece 

 of about 3 pounds. In 1844 or 1845 he purchased of Mr. Edington two 

 rains, which were of medium size, with a long, fine staple, but thin on 

 the sheep, and weighed about 5 pounds. The introduction of these 

 rains into the flock increased the weight of fleeces to about 3 pounds, 

 which was of very fine quality of long, white wool. The flock was then 

 bred in line until about 1857, when Mr. McClelland's sons, who had suc- 

 ceeded to the possession, purchased of Rockwell & Jones, of Vermont, 

 two Spanish rams of good size, smooth body, with a good dewlap and 

 a white fleece, weighing about 10 pounds each. This cross made quite 

 an improvement in the flock, and brought the weight of fleece to 4 pounds, 

 with a good form of sheep. In 1858 a ram was introduced from the 

 Henry S. Eandall stock, of New York. This Spanish ram was large, 

 with smooth body, a heavy neck, and a fleece of long, white wool, weigh- 

 ing about 12 pounds. This cross produced very satisfactory results, 

 increasing the weight of fleece to about 5 pounds, with a good form of 

 sheep, such as is needed to make good feeding wethers. In 1862 a year- 

 ling ram was purchased of C. H. Beall, of Brooke County, W. Va., claimed 

 as the corner stone in the foundation of the present flock of the McClel- 

 land Brothers. He sheared about 17 pounds of long, white, exceedingly 

 stylish, crimpy wool. He was a cross from a Spanish and Black-Top. 

 In 1867 a rain belonging to C. H. Beall was used. He was a large, well- 

 formed sheep, with smooth body, and good, heavy dewlap, and with 

 fleece at maturity weighing 18 pounds. In 1867 a Spanish ram belong- 

 ing to Robert Perrine, of Patterson's Mills, Pa., was used; fleece weigh- 

 ing 20 pounds. In 1872 one of William Thompson's stock ranis was 

 purchased. He was strong Spanish, with a fleece weighing 18 pounds. 

 In 1879 the well-known stock ram Success was used. This rani had 

 been exhibited many times, and was nearly always a winner. The 

 results of these crosses were very satisfactory. Of this flock, consisting 

 in 1882 of 1,700 sheep, 74 ewes were admitted to the Delaine Register, 

 at the head of which stands the stock'ram, Old John No. 1, sired by the 

 old Beall ram, whose name forms, in part, the designation Victor-Beall 

 Delaine Merino.* 



All the breeding of this flock was with the view to a large, bulky white 

 fleece of wool, and at the same time being careful not to lose sight of 

 good feeding wethers, such as were produced from this flock and sold 

 in 1882. One hundred 3-year-old wethers, after shearing 11 pounds of 



* Victor-Beall Delaine Merino Register. 



