312 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN TEXAS. 



Another difficulty followed the selection of these huge sheep. Over- 

 grown parents do not always produce overgrown oflspring ; but the 

 mar-'el must be kept up, and to do this, a concealed, or at least an un- 

 avowed course of pampering was resorted to in some cases. The lambs 

 were dropped two months before the usual time of having lambs dropped 

 in the North — the ewes were stufl'ed with unusual and succulent food 

 during the winter, regardless of cost ; they were kept in close, warm 

 stables at yeaning time; the lamb was often given the aid of a " sucking- 

 bottle," or a foster-dam, in addition to its natural parent ; it was taught 

 as soon as possible to eat roots and grain ; it was kept housed from every 

 storm, and even from the dews of the night, during the entire year. 

 This added greatly to the beauty and weight of the avooI — to its weight, 

 (when sheared unwashed,) because none of its natural oil was washed out 

 by rains. When at length it was exhibited, without any explanations of 

 the preceding facts, at some State fair, in autumn, it presented about 

 twice the size of carcass, and twice the length of wool, that it would 

 have done if dropped at the common time, and treated in the common 

 way. If not sold at a year old, it was not sheared, and the entire fleece 

 was left growing to increase the tnarvellous product at two years old ; or 

 if it was feared that this fraud would be too apparent, (beyond the gulli 

 bility of the particular market in view,) the yearling was "stubble- 

 sheared," that is, shared a half-inch or inch from the skin, leaving three 

 or four months' growth of wool thereon, to go into the next fleece. I do 

 not say, that the breeder is not authorized to conduct his business to suit 

 himself — men clearly have the right to pamper, and to manufacture 

 " marvels." But he who does so, is bound to give warning, " fair and 

 true," to the buyer, whether questioned or unquestioned. 



Helas ! Avhat was so soon the matter with those gigantic French rams, 

 which first scattered like wild-fire over the North? There came a chilly 

 rain-storm, and they sneezed and coughed. Soon they began to mope, 

 and fall off from their feed. They grew thin, and then weak. Their 

 heads drooped; yellow waxy matter collected about their dim, halt-closed 

 eyes; a sticky discharge clung about their nostrils; at length the faint 

 but rapid heaving of the flanks began to indicate a low fever. Tlien an- 

 other heavy cold shower, and the tarmer's boys presently ran into the 

 house, crying: "Father, fiither, the great ram is dead!" The farmer 

 had not known that he had set a hothouse plant out of doors! Thus 

 " departed this life," a majority — ay, a majority — of the first inundation 

 of great French rams — many of them without getting a lamb. When 

 they lived, it often proved a greater disaster to their owners. They 

 spoiled the carcass and constitution of his flock, lowered the quality of 

 liis wool, and not un frequently actually diminished its quantity. 



These circumstances created a violent reaction against French sheep, 

 and I should say, between eighty and ninety per cent, of our best North- 

 ern and Eastern wool-growers nov.'- thoroughly detest them. I believe 

 they have jumped off the bridge "on the other side!" Circumstances 

 led me into an extensive course of fresh investigations on this subject last 

 winter. I found French, like other sheep-raisers, divided in about the 

 asual proportion, between quacks and legitimate breeders. I found 

 French Merino flocks, and especially very high- bred grade French flocks, 

 based on an American Merino foundation on the maternal side, which 

 exhibited fine forms, sufficiently rugged constitutions, a good quality and 

 large quantity of wool. If the wool lacked a little of the gloss and style 

 of the choi< e American Merinos, it nevertheless Tvas u slesirable article. 



