510 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



Hue with the back ; the entire chest tmiforra in size, deep, and rounding; 

 the neck straight and short from top of head to shoulder, deep and 

 folded. The dewlap should start on top of neck near the shoulder, 

 widening on each side and hanging deep in front of the forelegs, with 

 small folds at intervals to back of head. The back straight and flat 

 from shoulder to tail. The ribs starting at right angles from the back- 

 bone, curving, and deep; as long before as behind, making a barrel- 

 like chest. The legs straight, short, and flat-boned ; standing fair under 

 the body. Flat, broad limbs; strong ribs; heavy shoulder blade. A 

 neat, small foot, well under the leg and wide at the heel. The wool 

 should be uniform in length all over the body, belly, and limbs to the ; 

 knees, and covering the face square to the eyes, and the fleece should 

 present a smooth, uniform surface over the animal and be uniformly 

 dark on its outer end. A pure, soluble, white oil should be evenly dis- 

 tributed along the fiber, enough to protect the fleece, giving it a healthy 

 and rich appearance. There should be a short spiral crimp to the wool, 

 evidence of it being pure Merino. 



In 1887 the flocks of registered Delaine sheep averaged 110 pounds to 

 the head for ewes, 100 to 110 pounds for yearling rams, and 180 pounds 

 for two-year-old rams. The ewes sheared a fleece of No. 1 Delaine 

 wool of 8 pounds, brook-washed, on the average, rams 12 to 18 

 pounds. Of unwashed wool the ewes would furnish 10 to 15 pounds, 

 the rams 16 to 22 pounds, all white. 



The characteristics, history, and improvements of the Washington 

 County Delaine Merinos are briefly set forth in a communication from 

 James McClelland, of Canonsburg, one of their most successful breed- 

 ers: 



The different flocks of the county being in a groat measure similar at first, in after 

 years of breeding took shape and character from the caprice of the breeder. Sheep 

 kept in large flocks on bare pastures and without being fed grain will develop a finer 

 wool, but a smaller, less vigorous animal; while in smaller flocks on rich pasture 

 and grain fed will develop into a larger animal, more wool, but of coarse quality. 

 This was perhaps about the only difference in the flocks of the county up to about 

 1850. But so marked had that difference become at that time that the leading flocks 

 of the county each had a character especially its own, and every one knew what 

 was meant by the Brownlee, the McClelland, the Berry, the Craighead, the McNary, 

 the Beall, and other breeders' flocks of the county. Yet in all this difference there 

 was this similarity of the original that had now been much changed there were no 

 wrinkles, or completely covered, or dense wool sheep, such as had been developed 

 among the Spanish breeders of Vermont and other Eastern States; but a bare-faced, i 

 bare-legged, and short wool on lower part of sides and belly of the sheep; and 4 j 

 pounds of wool per head was a high average for any flock, and 3 pounds was perhaps i 

 above the average of the flocks of the county. From 1850 to 1860 large numbers of J 

 the Vermont or registered Spanish Merinos were brought to the county. A fc\v 

 thoroughbred Spanish flocks were started, and the use of heavy wooled, wrinkled ; 

 rams on the old flocks of the county was a subject largely discussed, with a great j 

 difference of opinion and of practice in the matter. 



The war of the rebellion made an unusual demand for wool, and as very little dis- 

 crimination was made between the different classes of wool, quantity rather than 

 quality was the measure of proiit. This made the Spanish Merino very popular, and 



