No. 216.] 257 



of Saxony blood, and many thousands are interested in crying them 

 up, though people now see the error; I would never be satisfied with 

 sheep giving only 3 lbs. of wool, these sheep should not suit us in 

 any way, nor any cross of them, if it can be avoided. 



Pure Merino Sheep 



Many sheep in the United States are called so, that are not pure, 

 I mean pure Merino sheep, Spanish sheep that have been kept so, or 

 Rarabouillet sheep. Unfortunately there are very few pure Merino 

 sheep in the United States; I do not believe in the pedigrees given, 

 all have been crossed with the Saxon blood, which has reduced the 

 amount of the clip, injured the hardiness and thriftiness of the ani- 

 mal, spoiled the finest animals in the world; this is the sheep for us, 

 wool, not mutton being our main object, still where the capital is suf- 

 ficient, I would by no means confine myself exclusively to them, ex- 

 cept almost entirely for rams. Such is my opinion of these sheep, 

 that if I had capital of my own, I would not hesitate to go to France 

 and bring over the finest animals I could procure, and in the largest 

 quantities. The pure Merinos are the finest sheep in the world, in 

 the United States they clip 4 to 4|, and some called pure, 5 pounds. 

 In my numerous notes of Merinos in a long residence in France, they 

 clip all round 6 lbs. each sheep, choice flocks; and there are very 

 selected flocks that clip 9 lbs; this wool has sold for 50, 40, and 48 

 cts. per pound back- washed. As the manufacturers like the Saxony 

 wool, they make a difference of 10 cts. and more between that and 

 Merinos. 



Bakewells. 



These are fine sheep, come very early to the shambles, and suit 

 those who live near large markets; they do not do well generally in 

 the United States, are bad nurses, and would not suit us in a wool 

 growing point of view. 



Cotswold and Lincolnshire Sheep. 



These are long wooled sheep ; I recommend a flock of Cotswold 

 sheep crossed with the finest Merino rams; their wool may pay, and 

 the sheep more than the Merinos; combing wool w411 undoubtedly 

 be of great value in the United States. Mr. Lawrence of Lowell, re- 

 commends them, and says, that the worsted business will be of im- 

 mense importance in the United States. The Hon. Daniel Webster 

 strongly recommends these sheep; Lord Western has succeeded in 



[Am. Lnst.] R 



