SHEEP AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 191 



ened by the ravages of the scab, which had been in- 

 troduced 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 improved in Saxony, and 

 that the Saxon wool exceeded the Spanish in fine- 

 ness and value, 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 

 effectually to meet it, and to improve still farther 

 the stock already obtained. For this purpose an in- 

 dividual, considered one of the best judges of sheep 

 in Saxony, was despatched to Spain in 1777, with 

 orders to select 300. For some reason, probably 

 because he experienced difficulty in obtaining a 

 greater number presenting all the qualifications he 

 sought, he returned with but 110. They were from 

 nearly all the different flocks of Spain, but principal- 

 ly the Escurial, and were considered decidedly su- 

 perior to the first importation. In addition to the 

 establishment at Stolpen already founded, others 

 were now commenced at Rennersdorf, Lohmen, &c. ; 

 schools were established for the education of shep- 

 herds ; publications were distributed by the com- 

 missioners to throw information on the subject be- 

 fore the people ; and the crown tenants, it is said, 

 were each required to purchase a certain number of 

 the sheep. When we take into consideration the 

 unwearied pains bestowed on this favourite object 

 by the Saxon government ; the fact that the Saxon va- 

 riety are descended only from the choicest sheep of 

 Spain, and that a degree of care and attention are 

 bestowed on their breeding in the former country 

 entirely unknown in the latter, it is not a subject 

 of surprise that the emigrant Merino in Saxony ex- 

 cels the parent stock in the quality of his fleece and 

 that roundness of form and fineness of bone which 



