512 



SHEEP 



superintendent of Mr. Dickinson's farm, getting acquainted with 

 the sheep thereon and the breeding operations. In his flock was 

 a smooth-bodied ram named Bolivar that had very distinct indi- 

 vidual merit and was a great prize winner at the shows. In 1830 

 the Dickinson flock was sold, and Hildebrand secured some of 

 the best sheep. In 1823 James McDowell became an employee of 

 Mr. Dickinson and later went into the service of Mr. Hildebrand. 

 A part of his remuneration was to be "a selection of the best 

 two ewe lambs bred by Mr. Dickinson, descended from the select 

 Humphreys flock and sired by Bolivar." These lambs, according 



FIG. 228. A group of Dickinson Delaine Merino ewes bred by the late H. G. 

 McDowell and very typical of this family. From photograph, by courtesy 



of Mr. McDowell 



to Mr. McDowell, were the foundation stock of the Dickinson 

 Merinos, and the McDowell family of Stark County, Ohio, notably 

 the late H. G. McDowell, has been the leading improver of this 

 family. Dickinson Merinos are still being bred in a small way 

 in eastern Ohio, but the family has never been popular. 



Characteristics of Dickinson Delaines. The standard of excel- 

 lence specifies that the Dickinson Delaine shall have a deep, round, 

 wide, and long body, showing mutton capacity, carrying heavy, 

 thick flesh, the top and under lines being straight, and the skin 

 being smooth, pink, and free of folds. The head may have small 

 horns, but a polled head is preferred ; the nose and small ears 

 should be covered with silky hair. The fleece should be from 

 three to five inches long, of XX or XXX fine Delaine combing 



