40 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



THE IMPROVED BLACK TOP MERINO. 



This strain of the Merino is represented by a class of 

 sheep of which the prevailing characteristic is the uniform 

 dark top on the surface of the fleece, due to the even dis- 

 tribution of the natural oil which lubricates the fleece of all 

 sheep, but most especially of the various strains of the 

 Merino. It is a question among breeders of this type of 

 sheep, whether the oil and yolk are really of any value 

 to the fleece, at least to the large extent to w-liich it accom- 

 panies the wool. This matter has been incidentally referred 

 to in preceding pages and the belief expressed that this oil 

 and yolk is indispensable to this class of sheep, for the 

 reason, that as its fiber is so much crimped and wavy, and 

 inclined to felt, the natural supply of the oily matter of the 

 fleece is indispensable to the actual value of it. The special 

 character of the wool of the Merino classes, and its strong 

 tendency to felt together, render this natural product of the 

 highest value, and we cannot dispense with it. 



In the scale of points of this sub-breed of the Merinos, 

 the oil in the fleece is rated at six per cent; the staple, not 

 less than three and a half indies in length, eight; the 

 condition of the fleece at six, the quality of the wool at seven, 

 the evenness of the fleece at eight, the body at sixteen, and 

 the size and constitution at thirty. These figures tell the 

 story of the aims and ends of the breeders of this class of 

 the Merino. 



The weights run from 180 for rams to 130 Ibs. for ewes, 

 and the regularity of the make up in general goes to figure 

 out a fair mutton animal. The breed originated from the 

 nock of Mr. Dickinson of Ohio, the direct produce of the 

 Humphrey importations from Spain in 1802. By close but 

 judicious breeding, this present strain or breed as it is now 

 entitled to be called has become differentiated from the 

 common American Merinos, and is marked by the special 

 characteristics set forth in the herd record of the Associa- 

 tion, Lu which six hundred and sixty animals are entered, 

 being the aggregate of nine pure bred flocks all going back 

 to the original Humphrey importation. The flock of the 

 President of the Association, Mr. Robert Johnson of Wash- 

 ington County, Fa., was founded in 1844. Since that time 

 the best rams to be procured have been selected, but for 



