and Extension of the Merino Breed of Sheep. 417 



ground is covered with snow ; and t!iey are fed in the house, exactly as the native 

 breeds, with hay, beet-root, turnips, beans, and oats,; and take fat just as readily. 



It is related as a curious fact, establislied by M. Twent, from the observation of 

 twelve years, that the leaves of the alder are particularly relished by the sheep in 

 rainy weather; and as, when eating this food during such weather, they escape the 

 rot, though feeding on the most marshy soils, it is inferred that their preservation 

 is owing to this cause. 



M. Twent never gives salt to his sheep; and folds them for some months. 



Piedmont seems to have first introduced the Spanish breed of sheep in 1793. 

 The ewes consisted of 150, chosen from the best Segovian flocks, by Prince 

 Masserano. Part were placed on the domain of La Mandria, and part given up 

 to other proprietors. Notwithstanding the war which existed at that time, and 

 which threatened the entire destruction of this flock, they increased, dispersed as 

 they were, to about 5000, of which -f were of the pur?^ blood, and the rest crosses 

 from the ewes of Germany, Rome, Naples, and Padua. 



Under these circumstances, the greater part of the proprietors agreed to forrr. a 

 society; and, about the year 1801, obtaii^cd from the government of France, to 

 which Piedmont was then annexed, a grant to improve, under certain conditions, 

 the domain of La Mandria. They began with 2000 fine-wooUed sheep; which 

 they engaged to increase to 6000, and were to dispose of their spare rams for the 

 benefit of private individuals. Various laws were drawn up for the regulation of 

 the flocks of this society, which may be seen by consulting M. Lasteyrie. 



Besides these sheep, M. Collegno has a very fine flock of 1500. These, added 

 to 3000 of the society of La Mandria, and 500 in the hands of other proprietors, 

 make up the 5000 specified above as having existed in Piedmont in the year 1802. 

 The pure Merinos of this flock exceed the native Spanish one or two inches in height, 

 and produce, on an average, upwards of g^lb. of wool in the yolk ; which is fully 

 equal in every good quality to that of the original race. Some of the ewes' fleeces 

 liave reached 131b. and of the rams' nearly i/vlb. each. We are not told what 

 they lose in scouring. 



The farm of La Mandria has about 800 acres of land surrounding the sheep- 

 houses, which furnish food for the flocks from the end of October till about the 

 middle of June. They are then driven to the Alps, where they get a fresh spring of 

 good grass. All but the lambs are shorn before their journey. The rams continue 



VOL. V, 3 H 



