6 BULLETIN 94, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



in the records. Hence it is difficult to tell the actual number of 

 living animals. 



Many breeds have enjoyed periods of unusual prosperity, or 

 "booms," as they are commonly called. In some cases these have 

 been more or less permanent; in others, only temporary occurrences. 

 Thus it is possible that a breed might have a large number of animals 

 recorded and yet not be so important as one having many less because 

 it has passed the zenith of its popularity. 



But even though we could obtain the actual number of living sheep 

 recorded in each of the breed associations, taking them up in the 

 order of their numerical importance would not be satisfactory because 

 a breed is sometimes important in grading up the common flocks, 

 while the number of its purebred sheep remains comparatively small. 



Notwithstanding the fact that sheep farming for wool alone is 

 unprofitable, the Merino, distinctly a wool breed, is the foundation of 

 American sheep husbandry. By far the greater number of grade 

 flocks of America, especially through one section centering in Ohio, 

 and another comprising the bulk of territory west of the Mississippi 

 River, are of fine-wool origin. For this reason it is fitting that the 

 Merinos be treated first. 



In the medium-wool types the Southdown is well down the list in 

 numbers recorded, yet the important part this breed has played in 

 the evolution and development of the other "down" breeds warrants 

 it first place in this division. When there is no other preference 

 between breeds, they are placed according to their numerical strength, 

 care being taken to give the minor breeds a subordinate position. 



Among the long wools we have a case similar to that of the South- 

 down. The Leicester is relatively unimportant in the United States 

 as compared to the other long-wool breeds, notably the Cotswold and 

 Lincoln. Yet the Leicester entered the foundation stock of the long 

 wools, and therefore it should be placed first in the long-wool class. 



The unimportant woolless sheep are dealt with last. 



THE MERINO. 



The Spanish Merino is the progenitor of all the various Merino 

 breeds, classes, and types. Fine-wool sheep, presumably the ances- 

 tors of the present breeds, were well established in Spain at the dawn 

 of the Christian era, and as early as the eighth century extensive 

 textile arts were carried on by the Saracens at Seville and the wool 

 was furnished by the flocks of the surrounding country. 



There were two great groups of Spanish Merinos, known as the 

 Estantes, or Stationary, and the Transhumantes, or Migratory. The 

 latter group was considered much superior. These groups were fur- 

 ther divided into a number of more or less important families. Little 

 improvement took place in this breed in Spain, especially with regards 



