DOMESTIC BEEEDS OF SHEEP. 55 



our climate, and from the results that have already been obtained in 

 fur production it seems quite likely that the industry will be more 

 permanently established in America. 



THE PERSIAN SHEEP. 



The first importation of Persians to the United States took place 

 in June, 1892. Truxton Beale, United States minister to Persia, 

 brought over six individuals, which he presented to Secretary of 

 Agriculture Kusk. After changing hands several times, they were 

 finally taken to C. P. Bailey's ranch, at San Jose, Cal. A number of 

 small colonies were disseminated from the parent flock through 

 various Western States, and they were used for crossing upon the 

 fine-wool range sheep, producing what is known as the Persiarino. 

 The cross was said to result in an improvement in mutton form and for 

 a time was popular in a limited way, but less is heard of it during late 

 years. Another importation was made in 1910, consisting of a buck 

 and two ewes. 



The Persians that have arrived upon our shores have varied con- 

 siderably in color. Some have dark faces, while others are mostly 

 white. The mutton is considered of good quality, and the tail is a 

 delicacy with the Turks, but it is not very highly appreciated by the 

 Americans. The wool is rather long and coarse and grades low 

 quarter blood combing or carpet wool. 



It has been claimed that the Persian lambskin industry is based 

 upon this breed, but present information shows that the so-called 

 Persian lamb does not come from Persia but from Bokhara and that 

 the young of the Karakule sheep, mentioned elsewhere in this pub- 

 lication, produce these skins. 



In 1904, just previous to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the 



breeders of Persian sheep in America are said to have organized a 



society for the promotion of the breed. They have not manifested 



very much activity of late, the society apparently having ceased to 



exist. 



THE BARBADOS. 



The Barbados, or "Woolless," sheep were imported by the United 

 States Department of Agriculture from the Island of Barbados, West 

 Indies, in 1904. This importation consisted of one ram and four 

 ewes, and represented a present to the Department. The original 

 stock is supposed to have come from Africa. They are a rather 

 small breed, 52 ewes at the Government Farm at Beltsville, Md., 

 ranging from 63 to 115 pounds in weight and averaging 85.4 pounds. 

 Bucks weigh from 125 to 150 pounds. 



In mutton qualities, these sheep are very deficient. They are nar- 

 row and upstanding, fairly fine in bone, but have very long necks. 

 They are much cut up in the flanks, deficient in heart girth, have a 

 very droopy rump, with a low setting of the tail, are deficient in the 



