EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 511 



there were but few, if any, flock masters of the county that withstood the temptation 

 to increase the weight of their fleece by using the Spanish rams on their flocks. The 

 result was to nearly all breeders a satisfactory one. It was not a cross as between 

 different breeds, which sometimes is only disastrous, but an infusion of new blood of 

 the same species, which has always been regarded as legitimate and proper in the 

 breeding of any of our domestic animals, and when done judiciously is attended with 

 the best results. So it proved in this case. A large vigorous body, well covered 

 from nose to hoof, with a very desirable class of wool, and thickly set, differing from 

 the old Washington County sheep in covering and quantity of wool; and from the 

 Spanish, on a larger, smoother, and more vigorous body, and a better mutton, mak- 

 ing a sheep that has no equal in its suitableness to all the best interests and varied 

 cin umstances of the American shepherd. Another important circumstance in this 

 connection was the invention of machinery for the combing of fine wool. Before the 

 invention of E. R. Mudge, now deceased, of Boston, Mass., only coarse, long wool was 

 combed; fine wool was carded. But by this invention fine wool of a given length 

 and strength is successfully combed, by which process the finest, most fashionable, 

 durable, and comfortable clothing is manfactured. This placed Delaine wool at a 

 premium in the market, and turned the attention of wool-growers to the production 

 of such wool. The best sheep to produce such wool was just such a sheep as had 

 been developed by the use of the Spanish or Vermont rams on the Washington County 

 large-bodied sheep, as it required a vigorous constitution to give strength. 



The men Avho organized the National Delaine Association were the first to ever 

 advertise as a distinct breed the Delaine Merino sheep. This was in 1878, and they 

 were shown as such at agricultural fairs of the county in that year. The flocks from 

 which the original selections were made ran back with some degree of purity to the 

 imported flock of Alexander Reed in 1819. The use of Spanish rams on these flocks, 

 made in 1860 to 1870, was made with the view of producing Delaine wool as a 

 specialty. The rams for such breeding purposes were selected with a view to size, 

 covering, quality and quantity of wool. No very small or excessively wrinkled 

 sheep with very oily or gummy wool was used. * * * The Delaines differ from 

 all other families of the Merino in that they combine length, strength, density, and 

 covering of wool on the largest and most vigorous body of any family. Others may 

 be equal in one or other of the above qualities, but no other is their equal in all com- 

 bined. This difference is the improvement that is claimed as the result of most 

 careful and judicious breeding, and so well have these qualities been established 

 that they will transmit them with almost unerring certainty, and are therefore very 

 valuable for the purpose of breeding on other families that are wanting in this 

 regard. They also excel all other families as a mutton sheep. The manner of breed- 

 ing these sheep has developed a tendency to early maturity. Easily fattened and 

 large bodied, they are rivals of any of the famous mutton breeds themselves. If 

 fattened on oat and root crops, as the famous English mutton is in England, 

 they would excel any large gross mutton breed in the production of tender, juicy, 

 delicious, healthful meat, as the co-relation existing between different parts of the 

 animal give similarity, and the fine-wooled sheep will give the fine texture of muscle 

 and flesh. 



Some breeders of the Delaine sheep, believing that individual merit 

 should be the test admitting sheep to registry, formed the Standard 

 Delaine Spanish Merino Sheep Breeders' Association, in February, 

 1890. The greatest difference between this and the old Delaine Asso- 

 ciation is that it requires more individual merit to be admitted to regis- 

 try than in the old association, more density of fleece, better surface, 

 better quarters, and shorter legs. Tlu> slice] > must stand a close inspec- 

 tion by a competent judge, and where it falls short of 60 per cent in 



