56 



efforts to introduce Merinos, and in 1786 laid the foundations 

 of the famous Rambouillet flock, from which importations have 

 been made into this country. The Revolution seems to have 

 checked the enterprise, however, and as late as 1831 there 

 were 30,000,000 of the native breeds, and only 250,000 of 

 the pure Merinos. From this cause, the extensive fine woolen 

 manufactories of France are dependent on other nations for 

 their supply of raw materials ; and yet the only sheep in that 

 empire which are considered truly valuable are descended from 

 the Eambouillet flock, so admirably described by Chancellor 

 Livingston, and from which the well known importation of Mr. 

 Collins of Hartford, Connecticut, was made in 1840. It is 

 said of them that : — 



" 1. They possess as good constitutions, and are as thrifty 

 and as hardy as any native or imported sheep whatever. 



"2. They attain a great age, having been known to reach 

 20 years, and may be depended on as good breeders till 12 or 

 14 years old. 



" 3. They have large, loose skins, full of folds, especially 

 around the neck and below it, on the shoulders, and not unfre- 

 quently over the whole body ; the wool thickly covering its 

 surface, the forehead, cheeks, and the legs, clear down to the 

 hoofs, giving the fleece, when shorn and spread out in its ample 

 dimensions, the appearance of having been taken from the car- 

 cass of a huge buflalo, rather than so small an animal as the 

 domestic sheep. 



" 4. The fibre of the wool is very fine, quite equal to the 

 best Merino in Spain, and is the very antipodes of that of 

 which so much complaint is made by the manufacturer, of be- 

 ing harsh, dry, crispy, and wiry. The fleece opens of a bril- 

 liant creamy color within, on a skin of rich pink, and is soft, 

 glossy, wavy, and is very even over the whole body ; is ex- 

 ceedingly close and compact, and has a yolk free from gum, 

 and easily liberated when it comes to be washed, but which 

 protects the wool from the weather, and keeps it free of the 

 dead ends that arc so objectionable. It becomes of the purest 



