SAXON SHEEP. 87 



tach or forge which is considered a high crime, and punish- 

 ed severely."* 



Before the introduction of the Merinos into Saxony the 

 indigenous sheep consisted of two distinct varieties, one 

 bearing a wool of some value, and the other yielding a fleece 

 applicable only to the coarsest manufactures. Both of these 

 breeds have been most extensively crossed with the Saxon 

 Merinos, and very many mixed flocks now exhibit fleeces 

 litte inferior to the best and purest Escurial sheep. 



According to Mr. Carr, the Infantado Merinos are also 

 cultivated in their purity, and are described by him as hav- 

 ing shorter legs, and heavier and rounder bodies than the 

 Escurial Saxons, with heads and necks comparatively short 

 and broad. The wool is often matted upon the neck, back, 

 and thighs, and grows upon the head to the eyes, and upon 

 the legs to the very feet. The grease in their fleeces is al- 

 most pitchy, so as to render the washing very difficult. He 

 describes the mode of washing as follows : — " A warm, mild 

 day, without harsh or drying wind, is indispensable. A 

 marl-pit with a depth of from 8 to 10 feet of clear water is a 

 favorite washing place. The sheep are thrown in from a 

 stage in the evening, and made to swim the whole length 

 of the pond (20 or 30 yards), between rails, with boards on 

 one side, from which women or boys assist them through 

 their bath, by placing wooden rakes or crooks under their 

 chins, and so passing them onwards. When the water has 

 dripped from the fleeces for an hour or two, the sheep are 

 put into a house for the night, as close together as possible, 

 in order to cause the greater evaporation, and the next day 

 they are swum three or four times through the pond, and 

 they are kept in the house (well supplied with clean straw) 

 on dry food, for three or four days, until the wool, by sweat- 

 ing as it is termed, has recovered its characteristic softness. 

 The fleece of this species is generally thick, closely grown, 

 and abundant. Ewes average 2 1-4 to 3 1-4 lbs. by careful 

 feeding [which, however, must never approach to feeding to he 

 fat, else the wool becomes wiry and hard), and rams and wed- 

 ders vary from 4 lbs. to even 6 lbs." 



The Escurial Saxon breed have long, tapering necks, 

 small heads, with little wool upon them, round carcases, 

 with rather narrow yet deep chests, and when in good flesh, 



* C. Howard. 



