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



than that of any other breed. They have two principal strongholds 

 in this country. The first and most important is the range country 

 west of the Mississippi, and the second is the fine-wool section of 

 Ohio, which also embraces parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and 

 Michigan. 



On the range a hardy sheep that will withstand seasons of drought 

 and scanty food, that will band together in large Hocks while feeding, 

 and that will produce a good fleece is desired. The Merino fills these 

 requirements. But it is also desirable to raise a crop of mutton lambs 

 on the range. The Merino is distinctly inferior for this purpose, and 

 as it seems to be difficult to secure a mutton breed that will suit range 

 conditions in itself, the alternative has been taken of using ewes of 

 Merino foundation and crossing a mutton ram upon them. The 

 Delaine-type ewe has been especially popular for this purpose. 



In the fine-wool section of Ohio there are many purebred flocks 

 of considerable size and note, and a large majority of the farmers' 

 flocks are grade or purebred Merino. Much Vermont stock was 

 taken to Ohio. The strongest fine wool of the world is produced in 

 this region. The establishment of the Merino in this section has been 

 to some extent due to the demand for breeding stock through the 

 West. Now that the demand has decreased because of the re- 

 duction of the range and because of the Western States producing 

 most of their own breeding stock, it seems possible that the Merino 

 will remain and a type be developed that will more nearly fulfill the 

 mutton requirements of the markets as they exist to-day. Of late 

 years Merino ewes have been used for the production of "hothouse 

 lambs." 



The Merino breed has been hampered with a superabundance of 

 record associations. Some of these have been founded upon certain 

 strains of the breed, only sheep descended from these strains being 

 eligible for registry. The confusion caused by crossing A, B, and C 

 types and by the existence of numerous record associations is with- 

 out a parallel in American live-stock history. The number of socie- 

 ties at the present time is not so great as formerly, as some of these 

 have combined and others have dropped out of existence. The 

 American & Delaine Merino Record Association, Delaware, Ohio; 

 the Standard Delaine Merino Sheep Breeders' Association, Saline, 

 Mich. ; the Vermont, New York & Ohio Merino Sheep Breeders' As- 

 sociation, Delaware, Ohio ; and the Michigan Merino Sheep Breeders' 

 Association, Ann Arbor, Mich., are the principal remaining societies. 



THE RAMBOUILLET. 



The Rambouillet or French Merino breed was developed by the 

 French Government for the purpose of securing a domestic supply of 

 wool. In 1783, Louis XVI bought a large estate near the village of 



