134 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



flocks, but not commonly so — their wool lontjish on both back and be'iiy 

 and exceedingly dense — wool whiter within than the Rambouiileli-— skic 

 the same rich rose-color. The ram on page 131 is a good specimen of this 

 variety, though his age is not sufficient to give him the substance and com- 

 pactness of" an older animal, and the apparent want in these particulars is 

 [lightened by recent shearing* His first fleece of well-washed wool at 

 thirteen months old, was 8 lbs.; was of beautiful quality, and entinlv 

 destitute of hair. At three years old he would have sheared from 10 tc l5j 

 ihs. of well-washed wool.t 



MERINO EWE. 



The second general class of American Merinos are smaller than the prc- 

 teding — less hardy — wool as a general thing finer — covered with a black 

 pitchy gum on its extremities — fleece about one -fourth lighter than in class 

 first. 



The third class, which have been bred mostly South, are still smaller and 

 less hardy — and carry still finer and lighter fleeces. The fleece is desti- 

 tute of external gum. The sheep and wool bear a close resemblance to 

 the Saxon ; and if not actually mixed with that blood.J they have been 

 formed into a similar variety, by a similar course of breeding. 



C\?i^^ first are a larger and stronger sheep than those originally imported 

 from Spain, carry much heavier fleeces, and in well selected flocks, or in- 

 dividuals, the fleece is of a decidedly better quality. The ewe from my 

 f!ock — the portrait of which is given above — sheared 7 lbs. 10 oz. of well- 

 washed wool. II The fibre numbered 1. in fig. 1, in the succeeding measure- 

 ments by Dr. Emmons, is from this fleece. The fleece is exceedingly ever 

 and entirely destitute of hair. 



For the purpose of exhibiting the comparative quality of the wool of 



* The portrait, on the whole, ie strikingiy nccurate, but the skill of the artist does not compensate for hij 

 want of pxperience, in animal paintins, in civing the anatomical details and ezpretsion of the countenanca 

 The same remark applies to the portrait of the ewe. 



t This valuable animal died since the above portrait was painted, and prior to his second shearing. 



1 1 am not aware what pedij.Tee is claimed for them. They are usually spoken of ae Moiinos. 



I t. e.— washed aa i;U:an as practicable in a brook, under a heavy sheet oi falling wHtei. 



