DOMESTIC BREEDS OP SHEEP. 31 



these found a home upon the farm of Judge Richard Peters, of Bel- 

 mont, near Philadelphia. This importation took place in 1799. 

 About 1807 or 1808 Commodore Barron imported some into the 

 District of Columbia, and in 1825, 13 head were landed at New York 

 City. 



Judge Peters bred these sheep for 20 years upon his farm, and they 

 attained great popularity about Philadelphia for the quality of their 

 mutton. It is said that the demand for lambs for eating purposes 

 was so great that it actually hindered the development of the breed. 

 However, flocks were eventually established in the South in the 

 States of North and South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia, where 

 the breed also met with great favor, and increased in numbers until 

 the Civil War, when they were almost entirely destroyed. In 

 the North the sheep remained very popular until the fine-wool 

 craze struck the country, during which time mutton qualities were 

 entirely subordinated to wool. As the Tunis can not successfully 

 compete with the Merino in the production of wool, it was eliminated 

 from the race, and nothing more was heard of the breed until the 

 Columbian Exposition in 1893. At this show a pen of Tunis sheep 

 from South Carolina, descendants of those that had escaped destruc- 

 tion during the war, was exhibited, and a great deal of interest was 

 manifested in the breed. 



J. A. GuiUiams, of Roachdale, Ind., purchased some of these sheep, 

 and the next year he purchased 10 head of Col. M. R. Spigener, of 

 Columbia, S. C, who had a flock of about 30 head, evidently the only 

 one remaining in the South. Charles Rountree, of Yountsville, Ind., 

 became interested in the breed about the same time, and his flock 

 has since become famous. He has sold one lot, consisting of two 

 rams and six ewes, to William Cooper & Nephews, who exported 

 them to New Zealand. The American Tunis has been improved by 

 an infusion of Southdown blood, and the fat tail of the original has 

 been greatly reduced. 



The fact that the Tunis has given such good results in the North 

 and has survived through all the hardships with which it has met in 

 the South speaks well for its adaptability and hardiness. But, while 

 they have been popular in the North and have given excellent results, 

 there can be little doubt as to their special adaptability to the South- 

 ern States. They are an especially hardy breed, largely able to take 

 care of themselves, and the warm climate does not affect them 

 adversely, as it does some other breeds. The ewes are very fertile 

 and will mate at almost any season of the year. Because of their 

 superior breeding qualities the ewes should be especially desirable 

 for the production of early spring or hothouse lambs, and the South 

 is a good field for this industry. Crossed upon other breeds the Tunis 

 produces lambs of good mutton qualities, and they have thus wrought 



