r ) ■ THE GENESEE FAEATEK. 66 (^'^' 



eigns, except in a few instances, strictly prohibited their exportation. In 1786, tlie king 

 of France imported 400 ewes and bucl<s selected from the ehoicest breeds in Spain, and 

 placed them on his farm at liambouillet ; from these the celebrated breed bearing this 

 name derives its origin. Chancellor Livingston imported, in 1802, two very choice 

 ewes and rams of this breed to his farm on the Hudson. Col. Humphreys, onr minister 

 at Spain, also imported a considerable number of superior Merinos. But the largest 

 importation was in I'SOO. Mr. Jarvis, of Vermont, when U. S. consul at Spain, sliipped 

 to this country, as he states, "200 Escurials, afterwards, 1400 Paulars, IVOO Aqueirres, 

 100 Nigrettis, and about 200 Montareos. 2700 Montarcos were sent out by a Spaniard 

 and a Portugese, and about 300 Guadaloupcs by others; also, 200 to 300 Paulai-s, by 

 Gen. DowxiE, to Boston. Of the Montarco flock sliipped by others, about 2500 came 

 to Boston, Provadence, New York, and other ports. All were imported in the latter 

 part of 1809, '10, and '11, and were the only Leonese Transhumantes, if we include 

 Humphreys' and Livingston's, (which I have no doubt were of the same stock,) that 

 were ever shipped to the United States." 



The excellence of the Merino consists in the unexainpled fineness and felting property 

 of the wool, and the amount given by each sheep. The closeness of the wool and luxu- 

 rious yolk furnish these sheep with an imjiervious coat of mail, which resists rain, snow, 

 or any impurities that would injure the wool ; enabling the animal to stand, without 

 much harm, great extremes of temperature ; while its voracious appetite makes it appa- 

 rently satisfied with the coarsest food, and it will stand an occasional scarcity better than 

 any other breed. . 



Some object to the Merinos for their want of symmetry, their paucity of fat anu lambs, 

 and their liability to cutaneous disea.-es. The latter objection we think unfounded ; and 

 when it occurs, is doubtless owing to improper treatment rather than anything peculiar 

 in the functions of the skin. None will question the great value of the Merino in a 

 district where sheep are kept principally for their wool ; as they will, Avith proper atten- 

 tion, yield a larger quantity, which sells for a higher price than any other. 



But as the population of the country increases, and a greater amount of food is con- 

 sumed, mutton will be in request and high prices paid for a superior quality. In the 

 neighborhood of large cities the demand for good mutton has induced many farmers to 

 raise sheep more for the mutton and tallow than the wool ; and they find it excecding'y 

 profitable. With such, the South Down, or middle wool, is a deserved favorite. The 

 fine flavor of the mutton is well known, selling in the London market for two cents per 

 pound more than any other kind. The wool is of a medium quality, rather short and 

 thick, selling for about twelve cents per pound less than Merino. The average of a good 

 flock would be about four pounds of washed wool per sheep. They mature much earlier 

 than the Merino. We have known a flock of 125 South Down wethers, fed with Amer- 

 ican oil-cake, clover hay, and ruta baga, average 168 lbs. live weight, and 96 lbs. carcass 

 when slaughtered, at from ten to twelve months old. They were never shorn. One 

 hundred ewes, unless of very pure blood, will bring 150 lambs. The ewes are usually 

 sold off" when five years old, as they then begin to lose their teeth. A buck, if grained, 

 will serve eighty ewes in a season. The accompanying engraving represents two fine 

 specimens of this breed in the possession of Lewis G. Morris, exhibited at the New 

 York State Agricultural Fair in 1851, to which the Society's premium was awarded as 

 best over two years old. They are very hardy, standing cold, wet weather, and heavy 

 soil, much better than the long wooled sheep. Two pounds per head is a good average 

 •weekly increase, when fatting for the butcher; though we have known 100 average 

 three and a half pounds increase per week, in summer, when running in good clover. 

 In the vicinity of cities we believe this breed will pay better than any other. 



The Leicester, or long wooled sheep, has its admirers, who prefer it to any other breed. 

 ^ . Mr. Bakewell, of Dishley, England, by breeding in-and-in, and careful attention to the 



^^ ■ — ^- 



