MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 155 



In 1802 Col. David Humphreys, minister to Spain, made 

 the first importation of merit; the flock consisting of 200 head. 

 In 1809 Wm. Jarvis, minister to Portugal, imported an addi- 

 tional 200. Abraham Heaton in 1811 imported forty-two headj 

 of Merino ewes, and other importations followed. These sheep 

 were susceptible of great improvement, which opened up to the 

 American shepherd and breeder a grand opportunity which has 

 developed the Merino beyond expectations. Unlike the breeders 

 of our mother country in establishing sub-families .or types, our 

 people bred principally a more wrinkly type in order to 

 increase the weight of fleece, and for more than half a century 

 wool was the principal object. 



It was not until about 1867 when the woolen manufacturers 

 demanded a larger staple of fine wool, and the production of 

 mutton was no longer a secondary object, as the demand for 

 mutton steadily increased. It was then the broad-minded breed- 

 ers of certain localities of the eastern and central states con- 

 ceived the idea of . a wool and mutton type, and at once set 

 about to produce this combination from the American Merino. 



The selection from the Merino family was made to com- 

 bine these two qualities wool and mutton. Nothing but pure 

 Merino blood unmixed with any other breed could be used, 

 therefore an organization must be effected and rules and regu- 

 lations adopted. 



Most prominent of the promoters of this organization were 

 R. H. Eussel, W. R. Craighead, J. C. McNary, J. S. McNary, 

 James Quivey, McClelland Bros., afterward succeeded by James 

 McClelland, C. H. Beal and others, all from Washington 

 county, Pa. This organization was known as the "Delaine- 

 Merino Sheep Breeders' Association," but later was changed to 

 the "National Delaine-Merino Register," which is still in exist- 

 ence. A standard of excellence was, selected consisting of a scale 

 of points that was to be a guide in the formation of the type in 

 view. 



Length of staple, retaining its original fineness of fibre and 

 the formation of a mutton form, were objects sought. To the 

 end these men worked with a zeal that knew no retreat. Others 

 fell in and gave the association their undivided support. About 

 the same time the "Dickinson Merino Sheep Record Association" 

 was brought into existence, and remains in a flourishing con- 

 dition up to this time. 



In introducing this association the secretary says : "This 

 register is printed to embrace a record of the only pure bred 

 Dickinson Merino sheep in the United States of America, 

 descended pure from the celebrated thoroughbred flock of W. R. 

 Dickinson, of Stubenville, Ohio, who had established and preserved 

 the blood intact for many years of a flock of Merinos that were 



