154 MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



This type, however, was not brought into existence as a 

 rival of the mother breed, but to fill a place in sheep husbandry 

 to grow a wool required in the manufacture of a Delaine class 

 of goods requiring a longer staple than that grown upon the 

 wrinkly type, and at the same time retain as fine a fibre as 

 possible. With this in view it was necessary to select smooth 

 bodied sheep, with as long and dense a fleece as possible in 

 order to get a fixed type that would carry with it uniformity. 

 This, with a mutton form, was all to be accomplished in the 

 Delaine-Merino. 



Gamber Type of Delaine Ram. 



The first importation of sheep into the United States was 

 made by Christopher Columbus in 1493. History does not 

 inform us as to the breed of these sheep, but it is a foregone 

 conclusion that they were what is known the world over as the 

 Spanish Merino. 



Spain is the mother of this world renowned sheep, which has 

 formed itself into a distinct breed differing in characteristics 

 from all other breeds, being an all wool sheep and bred for this 

 purpose alone, having every part of the body, head and legs 

 covered with wool of the finest quality. Minor importations 

 of Merino sheep were made in 1801 by Seth Adams and De 

 Lesert. 



