144 THE SHEEP. 



vours to improve the Sheep of the country attracted at length 

 the notice of the Prussian Government, and, in 1786, Frede- 

 rick the Great imported direct from Spain 100 rams and 200 

 ewes of the pure Merino Breed. The greater part of this 

 imported flock died near Berlin of various maladies ; and 

 those that were sent to distant parts of the country degene- 

 rated, through the carelessness and want of skill of those to 

 whom they were entrusted. M. Fink was commissioned to 

 make a second purchase of 1000 pure Merinos ; and agricul- 

 tural schools were established, under the superin tendance of 

 M. Fink himself, for the instruction of shepherds, and for 

 disseminating a knowledge of the method of treatment of the 

 Sheep. These endeavours were successful, to the extent of 

 improving, by the admixture of blood, the native races, and 

 shewed that the pure Merinos could be reared in Prussia 

 without deterioration of the properties of the fleece. The 

 animals are chiefly fed on hay, straw, and corn ; and the 

 same precautions are used as are necessary in other north- 

 ern countries for protecting the Sheep from the inclemencies 

 of the weather. A considerable number of Merinos of pure 

 and mixed races are now produced in the Prussian States. 

 The wool of Silesia, in particular, stands in the first rank, 

 and has been made greatly to surpass that of the finest of 

 the migratory Sheep of Spain. 



Austria early pursued the same course which had been 

 followed elsewhere. In 1775, the Empress Maria Theresa 

 imported into Hungary 300 Merinos, and established them 

 at the imperial farm of Meropail. A school for farmers and 

 shepherds was established, and printed instructions were 

 issued, regarding the nature of the wool, and the methods of 

 treatment to be adopted. Subsequent importations were 

 made, and now a large proportion of the Sheep of Hungary 

 are either pure Merinos, or Merinos mixed in blood with the 

 indigenous races. The enormous estates of the Hungarian 

 nobles, whatever may be their effect on general industry, are 

 well adapted to the husbandry of Sheep ; and this country 



