ON SHEEP. 277 



practice of junfibling all the breeds together, as many farmers do, 

 thereby abusing nature, by thwarting her intentions, and filling the 

 country with Hybrids and nondescripts. 



During the Merino Fever, as it is called, most of our New-Eng- 

 land farmers entered into the speculation. A very few proceeded 

 carefully and judiciously, and have now converted their flocks into 

 full-blooded and genuine Merinos, the wool of which will not suf- 

 fer in comparison with any whatever. A very few kept, what is 

 called, the old or common breed, and avoided the Merino as they 

 would a wolf. But the majority have gone on without care or sys- 

 tem, and their flocks are now neither of one kind or the other. 

 They have neither fine wool nor coarse wool, long wool nor short 

 wool. They have none sufficiently fine to manufacture into supers 

 fine broadcloths, nor sufficiently coarse to make a horse blanket; 

 and as for mutton, they are much worse off than they would have 

 been had they stuck to the old breed. A farmer should consider 

 well what he wishes to do with regard to sheep, and what particu- 

 lar object, in this respect, his farm and conveniences will enable 

 him to accomplish with the most profit. If fine wool be the object 

 which engages his attention, let him keep the Merinos, or Saxo- 

 nies (which is considered nearly the same) and let them be Meri- 

 nos — all Merinos — and nothing but Merinos. He should con- 

 tent himself with the wool, for the mutton is certainly inferior, to 

 that of the other breeds which have been enumerated. 



The different breeds which it is thought would be beneficial to 

 our farmers to keep, and preserve pure, are four. Let us attend 

 to their peculiar qualifications and specific distinctions. 



1. The Merino and Saxony, The Merinos were first introduc- 

 ed into England from Spain in 1787. It is thought, however, bj 

 some, that the stock was originally carried from England many 

 years previous. They were first introduced into the United States 

 by Col. Humphreys, of Connecticut, and Livingston, of New- 

 York, and have proved of incalculable service to the country. 

 The Saxonies (originally Merinos) were carried from Spain about 

 sixty years ago, into the electorate of the Duke of Saxony. These 

 have been improved with the utmost care, and have now repaid 

 the trouble, by the immense sales of them for shipping to this coun- 

 try. " This breed bears the finest wool of the sheep species ; the 

 males usually have horns of the middle size, but the females are 

 usually without horns : the faces and legs are white, the legs rather 



