176 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH, 



tlie period of this strange excitement, was made the only test of excellence, 

 no matter how scanty its quantity, no matter how diminutive or miserable 

 the carcass. Governed by such views, the holders of most of our Merino 

 flocks purchased these over-delicate Saxons, and the consequence was as 

 miofht have been foreseen — their flocks were ruined." 



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SAXON KAM 



Saxons. — " In the year 1765, Augustus Frederick, Elector of Saxony, ob- 

 tained permission from tlie Spanish Court to import two hundred Merinos, 

 selected from the choicest flocks of Spain. They were chosen principally 

 from the Escurial flock, and on their arrival in Saxony, were placed on a 

 private estate belonging to the Elector, under the care of Spanish shepherds. 

 So much imjiortance was attached to the experiment, as it was then con- 

 sidered, that a commission was appointed to superintend the affairs of the 

 establishment ; and it was made its duty to diffuse information in relation 

 to the management of the new breed ; to disjjose of the surplus rams at 

 prices which would place them within the reach of all holders of sheep ; 

 and finally, by explaining the supei-ior value of the Merinos, to induce 

 the Saxon farmers to cross them with their native breeds. Popular preju- 

 dice, however, was strong against them, and this was hightened by the rava- 

 ges of the scab, which had been inti'oduced with them from Spain, and 

 which proved very destructive before it was finally eradicated. But when 

 it became apparent that the Merino, so far from degenerating, had im- 

 proved " in the quality of its wool, in Saxony, " the wise and patriotic efforts 

 of the Elector began to reap their merited success, and a revolution took 

 place in popular sentiment. The call for rams became so great that the 

 Government resolved on a new importation, to enable them more effec- 

 tually to meet it, and to improve still farther the stock already obtained. 

 For this purpose an individual, considered one of the best judges of sheep 

 in Saxony, was dispatched to Spain in 1777, with ordei's to select three hun- 

 dred. For some reason, probably because he experienced difficulty in obtain- 

 ing a greater number presenting all the qualifications he sought, he return- 



('3G8) 



