giving an increase of 2 5-9 oz. annually. 3. That the general 

 average, which in 1794 was 7 Ib. 4 5-6 oz., increased 2 Ib. 3 

 oz. in 34 years, and reached in 1838 9 Ib. 8 1-21 oz., being a 

 yearly increase of i oz. 



The second part of the table shows that the average 

 quantity of wool yielded by the rams was, in 1847, 12 Ib. 2^- 

 oz., being 5.80 per cent, of the weight of the animal after 

 shearing ; and in 1877, 15 Ib. i2|- oz., or 10.70 per cent. 

 The improvement in the breed is clearly demonstrated in 

 comparing these figures ; the improvement of the Merino, as 

 a wool-producing sheep, is followed by that of the increase of 

 4 Ib. 10 oz. in forty years in the weight of the animal, being 

 equal to i 6-7 oz. per annum. 



In the ewes in 1847, we note 8 Ib. 10^ oz., equal to 6.88 

 per cent, of the weight of the animal after shearing ; and in 

 1877, ii Ib. 3! oz., or 11.30 per cent., making a difference of 

 2 Ib. 9^ oz., or i oz. a year. 



These figures need no comment. They result from an 

 average taken on a large number of sheep. Thus those of 

 ii Ib. 3f oz. average weight of the fleece of the ewes in 1877, 

 and the yield in wool of 11.30 per cent, of the weight of the 

 ewes after the shearing, result from the average taken on 

 521 ewes of all ages. And this system of following the 

 increase or decrease of the yield of the sheep on their farms 

 is practised throughout France. 



Having stated the improvements obtained on the yield 

 of the fleeces at Rambouillet in weight, we shall see how it 

 bears on the fibre of the wool. The table on the following 

 page is handed to us by M. Bernardin himself. 



Several noteworthy facts are shown in this table, i. 

 That the rams' wool is longer, less fine, and more wavy than 

 that of the ewes. 2. That the diameter of the fibre has 

 varied but very little. 3. That the lock has lengthened 

 slightly ; but this extra length does not suffice to explain the 

 increase of weight in the whole fleece. This result acquired 

 must be attributed to a multitude of causes, amongst others 

 the increase in the number of fibres on a given surface of 

 skin. 4. That the number of undulations has been increased. 

 On the other hand the shape of the locks has been improved. 

 It is more square, and the fleece is closer. The wool of the 

 Rambouillet sheep is, on account of its firmness, and of its 

 other qualities, eagerly bought by the manufacturers for 

 clothing purposes. The yield of this wool, after scouring, is 

 the same now as it was at the time of the introduction of the 

 Merinos in France varying from 30 to 33 per cent. ; this 

 again tends to show that the race has maintained its purity, 

 although in other ways it has been materially improved. We 

 need not speak of the hardy nature of the Rambouillet 

 Merinos ; this fact is well known in a colony where sheep 

 are neither housed nor watched, but even in this we have 



