172 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



flocks, but not commonly so — their wool longish on both back and belly, 

 and exceedingly dense — wool v/hiter within than the Rambouillets — skin 

 the same rich rose-color. The ram on page 169 is a good specimen of this 

 variety, though his age is not sufficient to give him the substance and com- 

 pactness of au older animal, and the apparent want in these particulars is 

 hightened by recent shearing* His first fleece of well-washed wool, at 

 thirteen months old, was 8 lbs.; was of beautiful cpiality, and entirely 

 destitute of hair. At three years old he would have sheared from 10 to 12 

 lbs. of well-washed wool.t 



MERIN'O EWE. 



The second general class of American Merinos are smaller than the pre- 

 ceding — less hardy — wool as a general thing finer — covered with a black 

 pitchy gum on its extremities — fleece about one-fourth lighter than in class 

 first. 



The third class, which have been bred mostly vSouth, are still smaller and 

 lesss hardy — and carry still finer and lighter fleeces. The fleece is desti- 

 tute of external gum. The sheep and wool bear a close resemblance to 

 the Saxon ; and if not actually mixed with that blood,t they have been 

 formed into a similar variety, by a similar course of breeding. 



Q\^^^ first are a larger and stronger sheep than those originally imported 

 from Spain, carry much heavier fleeces, and in well selected flocks, or in- 

 dividuals, the fleece is of a decidedly better quality. The ewe from my 

 flock — the portrait of which is given above — sheared 7 lbs. 10 oz. of well- 

 washed wool. II The fibre numbered 1. in fig. 1, in the succeeding measure- 

 ments by Dr. Emmons, is from this fleece. The fleece is exceedingly even 

 and entirely destitute of hair. 



For the pui'pose of exhibiting the comparative quality of the wool of 



* The poitrait, on the whole, is strikingly accurate, but the skill of the artist does not compensate for his 

 want of experience, in animal paintinc, ui giving the anatomical details and expression of the countenance. 

 The same remark applies to the portrait of the ewe. 



f This valuable animal died since the above portrait Was painted, and pi-ior to his second shearing. 



1 1 am not aware what pedigree is claimed for them. They are usually spoken of as Merinos. 



fl i. e. — washed as clean as practicable in a brook, under a heavy sheet of falling water. 

 (364) 



