CONTENTS. Xlll 



HWTORY OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MERINOS INTO THE UNITED 

 STATES. 



First ram imported by M. Delessert from the Rambouillet flock — Seth 

 Adams's importation — his account of the same — Hon. William Jar- 

 vis's importations — his account of the same — also Chancellor Living- 

 ston's — also Gen. Humphreys' — number of Merinos purchased by Mr. 

 Jarvis — the kinds — what ports of the United States they were landed, 

 and the number at each port — his description of the qualities of the 

 Paular variety of Merinos — the Nigrettis — the Aqueirres — the Es- 

 curials — the Montarcos — the Gaudaloupes — number of each he put 

 on his farm in Weathersfield, Vermont — manner of breeding them — 

 allusion to an importation of Rambouillet Merinos by a citizen of Con- 

 necticut — weight of American Merino fleeces — enterprising feeling for 

 wool improvement — public attention directed to the Merinos — com- 

 mended. 



French Sheep. The breeds varied as the face of the country — remarks 

 —the most valuable wooled sheep in the south part of the kingdom — 

 sheep of Aries — number — migratory — summered on the Alps — sheep 

 led by goats — singular sagacity of these animals — M. Daubenton's ex- 

 periments with Merinos — his success induced the French government 

 to import nearly 300 from Spain — w^ere placed at Rambouillet, near 

 Paris — not prosperous at first — the prices ewes and rams sold at from 

 time to time — also their fleeces — experiments in crossing with native 

 sheep — publication on their management by M. Gilbert — school es- 

 tablished for the education of shepherds — slow increase of Merinos in 

 France — reasons assigned — prices of Rambouillet Merinos in 1834 — 

 Mr. Trimmer's description of the flock — extract from M. Gilbert's 

 Report concerning them — importation from the flock by D. C. Collins 

 — number imported — his motives for so doing — description of his sheep 

 from the American Agriculturist. 



Swiss Sheep. Consist of two kinds — valley and mountain — the former 

 conform to the English long-wooled breeds — the mountain the most 

 valuable — have been improved by the Merino cross .... 59 



CHAPTER IV. 



Saxon Sheep. Introduction of Merinos into Saxony in 1765 — the late 

 Mr. H. D. Grove's account of the same — cause of the high prices of 

 Saxon sheep — prices of rams — breeding in and in a cause of the fine- 

 ness of their fleeces — remarks of Mr. Grove on German management 

 — remarks of Mr. Carr — also Dr. Bright — sheep driven into the yards 

 daily in winter — great care in selecting breeders — mode of examina- 

 tion — descrij)tion of the native breeds of Saxony — remarks on the In- 

 fantado Merinos of Germany — mode of washing them — description of 

 the form of the Saxon Merino — average weight of their fleeces — great 

 care in washing and shearing — wool carried to Leipsic for a market — 

 manner of packing wool — large amount exported to England and 

 France — superiority of German woollen fabrics — history of the intro- 

 duction of the Saxons into the United States by H. D. Grove — many 

 miserable specimens of the breed imported — many American flocks 

 which rival the best German in fineness — American Saxons more 

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