94 EUROPEAN SHEEP. 



SILESIAN SHEEP. 



As has already been said, a portion of the native sheep of 

 Silesia were comparatively finer than those of Prussia and 

 Hungary. Nevertheless, the breed was infinitely below the 

 Merino in the value of their wool, and it was not until the 

 introduction of the latter that Sile&ian fleeces took high rank. 

 At present the wools of that province, for the purposes of 

 the best manufactures, are almost equally valued with the 

 purest and finest Saxony. 



HUNGARIAN SHEEP. 



Hungary, a large territory within the Austrian domin- 

 ions, abounded with native sheep corresponding in inferi- 

 ority with other northern countries of Europe, which, with 

 bad management, rendered them comparatively worthless 

 for all purposes. 



The celebrated Empress Maria Theresa, after witnessing 

 the success of the Merinos in Saxony, through that enter- 

 prise which shone so conspicuously in her character, to en- 

 gage in everything which would tend to promote the wel- 

 fare of her people, was induced to import in 1775 several 

 hundred of that breed. They were placed at Mereopail, 

 where an agricultural school was established ; but it was 

 long before her laudable exertions were attended with the 

 desired success. In process of time other importations of 

 Merinos were made ; and within the last thirty years no 

 sheep districts have surpassed Hungary in the rapid progress 

 of wool improvement. The Hungarian fleeces now com- 

 pete successfully with the best Saxon, as will be seen on 

 reference to the wool table of prices, in the London market, 

 in the following pages. 



The number of sheep in the Territory of Hungary is 

 probably about eight millions, three millions of which are 

 the property of Prince Esterhazy ! 



SWEDISH SHEEP. 



For many centuries the Merinos were confined to Spain, 

 and preserved with jealous care. Sweden appears to have 

 been the first country which succeeded in procuring them ; 

 and there are now about seven hundred thousand in this 

 country.* 



* Spooner. 



