No. 199.] 115 



MERINO PKIZE SHEEP. 



Paidar Merino Prize Sheep, the property of Messrs. Cidlen Capeheart 

 and George W. Capeheart, Esqi's. Merry Hill, Jforth Carolina. 



The annexed groupe was taken from life by C. Mayr, artist, at the 

 exhibition of the American Institute at Madison Cottage, in the city 

 of New-York, Oct. 11, 1849; delineating Merinos belonging to 

 Messrs. Cullen and George W. Capeheart, Esqrs., of Merry Hill, 

 North Carolina. To thera> was awarded a silver. cup, for the best 

 pen of fine-wooled ewes ; and a diploma, for the second best fine- 

 woo led buck. 



These sheep were bred and forwarded by S. W. Jewett, Esq., of 

 Vermont, got by his premium buck Fortune. They are distinguished 

 for yielding very heavy fleeces of fine wool ; the ewes annually yield 

 over five pounds, and the raras over ten, of well cleansed wool. 

 They are also noted for being very docile and hardy, possessing very 

 strong constitutions, and able to thrive upon vei-y scanty keep. The 

 ewes are good nurses, and the lambs are easily reared, because they 

 drop strong and are protected from cold and wet by a thick covering 

 or coat in i. of soft hair and fur, which in a few months is shed, and 

 replaced by a thick pelt of rich, soft, oily wool, remarkably compact, 

 covering the whole body ; a natural clothing, sure to protect them in 

 severe weather. 



This breed of sheep are also distinguished for having loose, heavy, 

 folded skins, particularly about the neck, in the form of a ruffle, giv- 

 ing them a bold and lofty appearance, with some folds upon thie ribs, 

 and a wide-set tail at the rump. In the Patent Office Report for 

 1847, may be found an able letter from Charles L. Fleischman, Esq., 

 accompanied with cuts representing the best breeds of sheep in Ger- 

 many. On page 268, Mr. Fleischman says : " Twenty years ago, 

 bucks with a smooth, tight skin, which had extremely fine wool, were 

 considered the best ; but their fleeces were light in weight, and had 

 a tendency to run into twist. The German Merino wool grower had 

 to come back to the original form of rams, with a loose skin, many 

 folds and heavy fleeces, and since then they have succeeded in uniting^ 



