Types and Breeds of Sheep and Goats 221 



are usually divided into three classes, according to the 

 length of the wool. The long-wooled breeds are repre- 

 sented by the Lincoln, Leicester and Cotswold, while 



Fig. 147. Grand champion car-load of mutton sheep. Chicago International 

 Exposition, 1901. 



the short-wooled class includes the Southdown, Shrop- 

 shire and Cheviot. The fine-wooled breeds are repre- 

 sented by the Rambouillet or French Merino, and 

 Delaines or Spanish Merino. The fineness, as well as 

 length of staple, is an important quality in wools. 

 Dense fleeces, referring to the number of fibers per 

 square inch, are desired by both the manufacturers 

 and the sheep breeders. The dense fleeces afford more 

 protection to the body, and deteriorate less from expos- 

 ure to the rain, cold and dirt than the thin fleeces. 



304. The Merino Breeds have descended from old 

 Spanish stocks. They represent the highest type of 

 wool producer. The fleece is fine, dense on the body, 

 and uniform in length. The oil, or yolk, on the fleece 

 causes the wool to catch a great deal of dirt on the outer 

 layers, giving the animal a dark color. The Merinos 

 are hardy, healthy and excellent foragers. They thrive 

 even when the range is poor. 



