46 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



climate and other conditions of the country then having no 

 distinct and really valuable breed of sheep within its bor- 

 derspurchased, with the friendly help of the Spanish Gov- 

 ernment, over three hundred of the finest specimens of the 

 sheep of that country. A suitable farm for the accommoda- 

 tion of this flock was procured at a place known as llaiii- 

 bouillet, not far from Paris, and once the residence of the 

 kings of France. In the beautiful park near the otherwise 

 unuoteworthy village of this name, this flock was cultivated 

 with the highest skill by the Government for the advantage 

 of the citizens. No sheep were sold for many years, nor 

 untilby selection and breeding a distinctly new race, in- 

 deed a well-defined breed, was produced differing in several 

 important points from the original foundation stock. 



It was increased in size, and even more than proportion- 

 ately to this in the weight of the fleece, the wool of which 

 was increased in length to fully three inches and even more, 

 while the exquisite fineness and delicacy of fiber was in no 

 ways depreciated. The size of the sheep became double 

 that of the original Spanish flock, full grown ewes weighing 

 up to two hundred pounds, and the rams up to three hun- 

 dred, live weight. This improved fleece became the valua- 

 ble staple for the manufacture of those popular dress goods 

 known as the French Merino, as well as for mixed fabrics 

 of cotton warp and weft of this wool, and which were 

 known as delaines. From this style of exceedingly popular 

 fabric, which was beautifully printed in the French facto- 

 ries, this sheep has taken the sometime name of the Delaine 

 Merino. Here it takes the name commonly, of the place of 

 Its origin as the Rambouillet breed, and truly it deserves 

 this popular name in commemoration of the place of its 

 origin, which will doubtless retain this name, and for years 

 to come in the future in association with this magnificent 

 sheep, valued both for its flesh and its wool, when all remem- 

 brance of the frivolous and vicious occupants of the park 

 and ancient chateau will have been lost in the then long 

 past. 



The author visited this flock in the year 1848, and was 

 entertained in the most cordial manner by the superin- 

 tendent, who prepared a saddle of the mutton, cooked es- 

 pecially in the American style, as a sample of the excellent 



