362 SHEEP 



his sons, Matthew and William, they taking choice alternately. 

 Matthew Berry maintained his flock in pure Black Top lines, 

 while William bred likewise until 1856, when he introduced Ver- 

 mont Merino blood, with inferior results, which finally caused him 

 to dispose of his flock. The flocks of William Berry and his sons, 

 notably Matthew, are the foundation of this family. 



The Improved Black Top Merino is a family that has its founda- 

 tion in ten ewes purchased in 1 844 of George Craighead by Robert 

 Johnston of Washington County, Pennsylvania. These ewes were 

 bred to Craighead rams until 1847, after which, till 1853, rams 

 bred by Alexander McConnell were used, the latter obtaining his 

 foundation stock from W. R. Dickinson. From 1853 to 1867 Mr. 

 Johnston used only pure Black Top rams in his flock, and from 

 1867 to 1884 used rams bought from Matthew Berry. In 1850 

 George Black of Washington County, Pennsylvania, purchased 

 twenty-five Black Top ewes running back to Dickinson stock, and 

 by use of Berry and Johnston and other rams, established a Black 

 Top flock that is foundation stock in this family. This Black Top 

 family has been assumed by its promoters to be more carefully 

 selected and of higher standard than the Black Top Spanish. 



Characteristics of the Black Top Merino. It is difficult to dis- 

 tinguish this from the Delaine, of which it is really a variety. 

 The size is a trifle larger perhaps, and the fleece weighs a little 

 heavier. The Improved Black Top standard requires a weight 

 for mature rams of at least 180 pounds and 130 pounds for ewes. 

 The Black Top also has a somewhat darker fleece on the outside, 

 and is not quite so heavily wooled over the head as is the Delaine. 

 The fleece should be from three to four inches long, and the rams 

 should shear thirteen to fourteen pounds and the ewes seven to 

 twelve pounds of brook-washed wool. The rams have horns while 

 the ewes are hornless. Emphasis is placed on the mutton char- 

 acter of this family, which has long been bred with that feature 

 in view. The Black Top has been likened to the Southdown in 

 size and form, with the fleece of a Merino. The back is of good 

 breadth, and is thickly fleshed, while the hind quarters are heavy 

 and of mutton type. 



The maintenance of Delaine type in these varieties is by selec- 

 tion or by introducing new blood. For example, one may visit the 



