400 BOARD OP AGRICULTUKK. 



MERINO SHEEP; THEIR ORIGIN AND ADAPTATION 



TO THE WANTS OF THE SHEEP RAISERS 



OF INDIANA * 



BY I. N. COTTON, OF TRADERS POINT, MARION COUNTY. 



If antiquity was the point to be established we should all take it for granted in 

 favor of the Merino sheep, for at the time of the conquest of Spain by the ancient 

 Romans tliat country was celebrated for its fine-wooled Merinos, wliich had been 

 produced by that extraordinary care which the Spaniards gave their sheep, even 

 to the washing, oiling and combing the wool while yet on the sheep's back, and 

 anointing the skin with wine, and housing and blanketing to an extent not known 

 at the present day, to the sacrifice of the size and form of the sheep ; but at this 

 early day there was but little profit save the fleece; mutton had not entered into 

 general consumption. The lamb was considered a rare morsel, but the old sheep 

 was neglected as mutton. This special care in breeding and handling for a long 

 series of years lias given the peculiar characteristics to the Merino, not only in 

 form and wrinkle, but in fleece. 



There appears to have been some difference in the Merino even in its native 

 country, the locality, its climate, soil and production in connection with the care 

 bestowed upon the flocks determining the peculiar characteristics, for, notwith- 

 standing the endeavors of man to hold any of our domestic stock to a certain type, 

 they will deviate, and are changed to a certain extent by the geological structure of 

 the country in which they are raised, and also by the peculiar characteristics of 

 the forage ; and still greater is the change brought about by the flock-master, not 

 only by his crossing and feeding, but the very tone of his voice has an influence 

 on his flock. 



The history of the "Merino in this country commences with the present century. 

 They were imported from Spain, some of the bucks selling from one thousand to 

 fifteen hundred dollars, and ewes as high as one thousand each. They were im- 

 ported from diflTerent flocks, and generally took the name of the owner of the flock 

 as a prefix to Merino; and from these importations, with the addition of some im- 

 ported blood, has come the American Merino, which now has no superior, if any 

 equal, in any country in the world among Merinos; and it has become so well 

 known that it needs no description from my pen. It is a well-recognized fact that 

 they may be kept in larger flocks than any other sheep, and will stand more expos- 

 ure, their wool being more compact and containing more yolk and oil better pro- 

 tects them from inclement weather. And the records show that they are the 

 heaviest shearers known among the sheep family, not only in pounds but better 

 price, as was fully demonstrated at the late sheep-shearing festival of the Indiana 

 Wool Growers' Association, held at Indianapolis. 



*This paper was prepared according to the progra.mme, but owing to illness of the 

 author, was not presented in time for the meeting. 



