SECRETARY'S REPORT. 103 



bred with much care in Franco and Silesia, where they were 

 inijmrted about a hundred years ago, and became quite separate 

 and distinct in their characteristics. They were imported to 

 this country by George Campbell and otliers, of Westminster, 

 Vermont, in 1851. They do not, however, seem likely to 

 supersede the Spanish. 



SAXONIES. 



The next importation of fine wools was of the Saxonies, a 

 breed originally from the Spanish, but introduced into that 

 State by the Elector of Saxony, and being bred and treated with 

 the utmost care, became in the quality of wool superior even to 

 the Spanish Merino. It was believed that sheep prodnced so 

 far north as Saxony, although discarded from the Spanish 

 Merino, would prove hardier and more suitable for our climate; 

 but results have not justified the expectations of those who 

 introduced them, which at the time were raised to a degree 

 nearly equaling those of the Merino. Samuel Henshavv, of 

 Boston, imported the first in 1823. A Boston house soon after 

 imported several lots, some of which were sold at auction, 

 bringing as high a price as $450. Not giving the satisfaction 

 expected by those who purchased them, they were soon crossed 

 with the Merinos to such an extent that very few remain pure 

 in this State. Although the Saxony wool is of superlative fine- 

 ness, the sheep are not hardy, the fleece being so light as 

 not sufficient to protect them from the cold and wet, or to be 

 generally remiinerative, averaging through the country only 

 two pounds and two ounces to the fleece. 



LEICESTERS. 



Of the improved established breeds of England, the earliest, 

 and the first imported into the country, was the New Leicester, 

 so called from the county of Leicester, where it had its origin. 

 It was formed by Mr. Robert Bakewell, of Dishley, whence it is 

 likewise called the Bakewell or Dishley breed. It was about the 

 year 1755 that Mr. Bakewell commenced those experiments in 

 breeding sheep and other animals, which led to such important 

 results ; his object was to produce sheep exempt from tlie 

 defects of the races then cultivated, and possessed of a greater 

 aptitude to fatten and to arrive at early maturity, and the 



