DOMESTIC BREEDS OP SHEEP. 7 



to mutton qualities, which were very inferior, but the wool of these 

 sheep has been noted for its fineness for centuries. 



Merinos were introduced into Sweden about 1723; Saxony, 1765; 

 Silesia, 1768; France, 1783; United States, 1793;. Cape of Good Hope, 

 1797, and shortly afterwards into Australia. In all these countries 

 distinct types or breeds have arisen, and marked improvements have 

 taken place in many instances. In France the size, mutton qualities, 

 and amount of fleece have been increased; in Saxony the fiber is of 

 finer quality than that of the Spanish Merino; and similar improve- 

 ments have taken place in other foreign lands. The improvements 

 that have taken place in the United States will be discussed in a later 

 paragraph. 



The world-wide distribution of the Merino can be accounted for by 

 some of its peculiar qualities. The most important of these are its 

 wide range of adaptability, its marked degree of hardiness (contrary 

 to its apparently weak conformation), its inherent characteristic of 

 producing a heavy fleece of superior quality, and its habit of grazing, 

 these sheep banding together in large herds while feeding. 



The history of the Merino in this country has been marked by 

 alternating periods of popularity. The first importation was brought 

 over by Mr. William Foster, of Boston, Mass., in 1793. The ship- 

 ment consisted of one ram and two ewes, and they were presented to 

 Mr. Andrew Craigue, of Cambridge. The latter gentleman failed to 

 realize their value, and he had them slaughtered for mutton purposes. 

 Later, when he paid $1,000 for a single ram, he recognized his mistake. 

 In 1801 other small importations came over, and the Merinos grad- 

 ually increased in popularity and numbers until 1810, when the fine- 

 wool craze started and they were literally imported by the thousands. 

 In that year alone it is said that 10,000 were brought over. Ewes 

 sold for as much as $1,000 and rams for $1,500. After the war of 

 1812 the boom died down, and sheep that formerly sold for hundreds 

 of dollars could now be purchased for $1 a head. Spanish Merinos 

 have not been imported into this country since that period, though 

 Saxon and French Merinos were subsequently introduced. 



Half a century elapsed before the Merino was again in its glory. 

 The second craze swept over the country during the early sixties. At 

 this time rams were frequently valued as highly as $2,500, and an 

 offer of $10,000 for one ram was reported. 



The American type known as the Vermont Merino was developed 

 mainly in New England. It became the heaviest wool-producing 

 sheep in the world and the fiber was of exceptional strength and fine- 

 ness. These sheep are distinctive in having heavy folds over the 

 body, with the exception of on the back, these folds giving a larger 

 surface for the production of wool. The wool extends over the head 

 in a compact cap, often obscuring the eyes. Only the ears, the lower 



