332 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



The introduction of the Saxons, in great numbers, in 1826, 

 many of which were excessively diminutive and diseased, 

 and their indiscriminate use with our pure bred Merinos, was 

 a serious interruption to the career of improvement in many 

 of our flocks. Their mixture with the best Saxons was no 

 further detrimental, than to reduce the quantity of fleece, and 

 to a certain extent, lessen the peculiar hardiness of the ori- 

 ginal Transhumantes, which had been fully preserved by 

 their descendants in this country. The use of well selected 

 Saxon rams with Merino flocks was extensively practised, 

 and it is still persisted in by intelligent flock-masters, after 20 

 years' experience, who are satisfied that they find it for their 

 interest to continue this style of breeding. The animals 

 being smaller, consume less, and they probably produce a 

 quantity of wool in proportion to their food, which, from its 

 improved and uniform quality, commands a higher price in 

 the market. Wherever they are not sufficiently hardy, they 

 can be bred back towards the Spanish Merino standard, by 

 the use of some of the stouter rams. Their natures are intrin. 

 sically the same. They are only divergent streams from the 

 same original fountain, and when again united, they readily 

 coalesce and flow onwards, without violence or disorder. 



The Merino, as might reasonably have been anticipated, 

 when properly managed, has improved from a variety of 

 causes. Though kept scrupulously pure in Spain, they were 

 seldom bred with that refinement of taste, or that nice judg- 

 ment which distinguishes the accomplished modern breeders. 

 Their management was too entirely entrusted to ignorant 

 shepherds or careless agents, to secure that close attention 

 which is essential to improvement. The sheep had to perform 

 a journey of several hundred miles twice in a year, to and 

 from their distant Sierras ; and it was absolutely essential 

 that strong animals should be selected for breeding ; and to 

 secure this object, those were frequently used which were de- 

 ficient in the most profitable qualities. They were also 

 closely bred in-and-in, seldom or never departing from a 

 particular flock to procure a fresh cross. Their wild, noma- 

 dic life, approaching nearly to that of their natural state, and 

 their peculiarly healthful pasturage, alone prevented a serious 

 deterioration from this cause. When brought into the United 

 States, the flocks were soon mingled with each other, and for 

 many years past, probably, not an unmixed descendant of any 

 distinct original flock could be traced. Abundance of appro- 

 priate food has been given them, without the labor of long 



