142 THE SHEEP. 



to the native races ; and, if due attention were paid to the 

 cultivation of the latter, it may be questioned if they would 

 not be of superior economical value to the breeders. It is 

 supposed that there are about 100,000 of the pure and mixed 

 Merinos in Sweden, reckoned to be about l-25th part of the 

 Sheep of the country. 



France, although in contact with Spain on the Pyrenees, 

 did not attempt to acquire the Merino race until some time 

 before the middle of last century, when the illustrious Col- 

 bert, pursuing his numerous plans for extending the arts and 

 commerce of France, brought several Merinos across the 

 mountains for the purpose of improving the native Sheep. 

 His plan, though well devised, was opposed by the prejudices 

 of the people, and entirely failed. But in the year 1786, the 

 French Government, adopting the same design, imported a 

 considerable flook of pure Merinos, and established them at 

 the royal farm of Rambouillet, near Paris, where their de- 

 scendants yet remain. Every means were used to extend 

 the breed amongst the agriculturists of France, but with 

 little comparative success. In 1796 the Directory of the 

 French Republic took yet more active means to multiply the 

 breed. By a secret article in the treaty of Bale, they obtained 

 power to import from Spain 100 rams and 1000 ewes annu- 

 ally for five years. The Spanish Government quickly re- 

 pented of this forced concession, and political events pre- 

 vented the completion of the scheme, so that, of the stipulated 

 number, only 2000 rams and ewes reached their destination. 

 Napoleon resumed the project, and during his reign many 

 Merinos were brought across the frontiers. In this manner 

 have been introduced a great number of Merinos into France, 

 which have either remained pure, or been employed to cross 

 the native races. But, upon the whole, France has not been 

 very successful in this branch of husbandry. Although the 

 climate and soil of France are eminently suited to the pro- 

 duction of fine wool, the minute division of property in land, 



