FUTURE AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 65 



there combines more good qualities, for the general business of 

 producing wool and mutton, than any other sheep known. The 

 profit of Western flocks has been largely increased by the infu- 

 sion of Merino blood from that State. And we may be sure 

 that the animal now called the "Improved American Merino," 

 the special product of New England, will ultimately enhance 

 the profits of sheep husbandry in this country, as largely as did 

 the diffusion of Spanish Merino blood develop the same industry 

 in Europe, producing the Saxony, Siberian, French and other 

 fine-woolled breeds, now so well known there. Tiie American 

 Merino has been brought to such a degree of development that 

 we undoubtedly stand in the front rank as a combination of the 

 most desirable points in a sheep. We cannot claim to be fore- 

 most in each one, but, in all combined, unequalled. The best 

 of them have : 



1. A square, low, solid form, with great depth and breadth, 

 indicative of strong constitution and vigor. 



2. Admirable capacity to take on fat at maturity. 



3. A carcase of mutton rivalling tlie Southdown and the 

 mountain breed of Scotland and Wales in delicacy and flavor. 



4. An even, uniform coating of strong wool, of the best 

 quality, covering the whole surface of the body, and so protected 

 from the effects of snow and rain as to waste but little in the 

 process of combing or carding. 



We have a soil and climate peculiarly adapted to producing 

 this sheep in the greatest perfection. And while we may not 

 hope to raise wool as cheaply as it can be done in Texas, or 

 mutton as profitably as it can be done in Ohio, we may still 

 render our sheep husbandry more remunerative than theirs by 

 devotion to the business of improving the Merino for those 

 markets where the soil and climate are less favorable than our 

 own — to the growth of a compact, hardy animal, with a thick- 

 set, uniform, lively fleece of wool, valuable to the American 

 farmer and indispensable to the American manufacturer. 

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