EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 563 



was ISf pounds, and the uniformity of the weights in the entire lot was 

 very remarkable, the variation from the average being very slight. Mr. 

 J. H. Keller's flock was laid in purchases of ewes from the estate of his 

 father, Eli Keller, who had one of the best flocks of Licking County. 

 At this time it consisted of 40 ewes and 9 rams, pure Atwood blood, 

 and 27 ewes and 6 ranis descendants of and bred to combine the blood 

 of the Humphreys, Cock, and Jarvis flocks. 



Shearings in various parts of the State from 1871 to 1875 showed a 

 marked advance on those from 1861 to 1865 in the weight of fleece, but 

 the interest was a languishing one after prices of wool a gala declined in 

 1873, and there was a disposition to abandon the fine-wool sheep and 

 raise the mutton sheep. From 1868 to 1872 a large number of flocks of 

 good Merino sheep were allowed to run down by breeding to rams of 

 unknown and inferior blood, and from 1873 there was a crossing with 

 the long- wool rams, and in 1875 and 1876 there was a perceptible decline 

 of pure-blood Merino flocks throughout the State, particularly in the 

 southern and western parts and near the cities on the lakes. Many of 

 the lake townships have almost ceased to raise sheep. The long- wools 

 have fleeces too open and thin for the sudden and severe changes of 

 the winters, and do not thrive in flocks of any considerable number. 

 Nor are they needed to any large extent to supply the demand for 

 combing wool, which was formerly in great demand. The improved 

 machinery of the day combs a shorter staple than formerly. Wool 2J 

 to 3 inches long can now be combed with ease, and there are many 

 breeders in Ohio, West Virginia, and Washington County, Pa., as 

 shown in preceding pages, that now grow fleeces from unhoused Merinos 

 with a length of wool from 2 to 4 inches. The Black-Tops produce a 

 staple 4 to 5 inches long. 



The great change in the sheep husbandry of the State is attributed 

 to the low prices of wool since 1872. Merino flocks are not now as large, 

 and the mutton sheep have been more looked to, and in general have 

 proven to be the most profitable. Fine Leicesters, Lincolns, Cotswolds, 

 Oxfords, Hampshires, Southdowns, and Shropshires have found their 

 way into all parts of the State, and are increasing, while the Merinos 

 are decreasing. In 1865 90 per cent of the sheep of the State were 

 Merinos and their grades, while in 1886 but 52 J per cent were Merinos, 

 and the remainder Shropshires, Oxfords, Cotswolds, and other mingled 

 blood. The proportion of each is shown as follows : 



Per cent. 



Pure Merinos 13. 



Grade Merinos 39. 5 



Pure Shropshire Downs 2. 3 



Grade Shropshire Downs 4. 3 



Pore Oxford Downs 0. 9 



Grade Oxford Downs 1. 4 



Pure Cotswolds 3. 9 



Grade Cotswolds 9. 



Mixed blood .. .25.7 



