PROPERTIES AND DISTRIBUTION 201 



hands of Alexander Reed, and their descendants were furnished to 

 a half dozen or more breeders, who developed important flocks, but 

 the final steps in developing the real Delaine type in the Pennsyl- 

 vania flocks consisted in using two rams, one being Spanish Black 

 Top, a ram bred by C. J. Beal, of West Virginia, and used in a 

 flock belonging to the sons of Ebeneezer McClellan, and the other a 

 Spanish ram named Victor, bred by J. M. Miller and used by R. 

 H. Russel and J. C. McNary. Just what is meant by the term 

 Spanish and Black Top as descriptive of the breeding of these rams 

 is difficult to explain, but it seems that Victor and the Beal ram 

 more nearly resembled the American Merino in folds and properties 

 of fleece than the smooth ewes upon which they were bred. In 

 fact many Delaine breeders, after years of experience, have advo- 

 cated the use of rams bordering on the American Merino type, when 

 the ewe flock begins to slip backward in weight of fleece. They 

 observe that such a cross greatly improves weight of fleece without 

 having a material adverse effect on the length of wool and the 

 mutton properties of the carcass. In Volume 2 of the Standard 

 Delaine Register this statement is made : " It is with great diffi- 

 culty that covering and density can be kept up in the absence of all 

 folds." And there appears another statement to the effect that 

 breeding a ram of the class B Merino on ewes free from folds has 

 been most satisfactory and encouraged by Standard Delaine breeders. 



Both the Black Top Spanish Merino and the Improved Black 

 Top Merino are smooth Merinos of the Delaine type and should be 

 regarded as belonging in the Delaine group. Their distinctive 

 character is their very dark exterior due to a rather abundant clear, 

 flowing yolk that becomes very dark in color when it hardens on the 

 surface of the fleece. These sheep were first selected out from their 

 lighter colored flock mates because they seemed more hardy. As 

 separate strains they are unusually well developed in mutton prop- 

 erties, for they carry even, solid backs and well-filled thighs. 



Description. The description of the C-type American Merino 

 coincides with that of the Delaine. 



Properties and Distribution. In producing the Delaine 

 Merino, breeders have sought to produce a useful farmers' sheep. 

 Therefore, they are more prolific, heavier milkers, and more reliable 

 mothers than the American Merinos. Also the lambs are stronger at 

 birth and hence more easily raised. 



