FINE-WOOL, BREEDS. 25 



Merino motliers and a good sire of one of the 

 mutton breeds are almost ideal for use upon 

 the farm, hardy, healthy, great milkers, good 

 shearers. When again topped by a blocky, 

 mutton-bred sire they produce lambs that are 

 hard to excel. 



There are a number of families of Merinos. 

 The American breeders divide them into three 

 general classes— the Spanish or American Me- 

 rino, the smallest in size and heaviest in fleece 

 of any; these sheep were once excessively wrin- 

 kled (wool grows upon wrinkles, thus the wool- 

 bearing capacity is increased). They usually 

 have a considerable amount of yolk in the 

 wool, though by no means the excessive amount 

 that was once common. During recent years 

 the American Merino has undergone quite an 

 evolution, obedient to the command of its 

 breeders, and has a better developed leg, a 

 stronger back, a better sprung rib, more vigor 

 and stamina than before and has, I think, lost 

 little in fleece-bearing powers. 



The American Merinos are the most highly 

 specialized of all sheep, their wool being best 

 and most abundant. Their breeders do not 

 claim that they are mutton sheep, though they 

 do make good mutton; but not so profitably 

 as some lighter shearing breeds. 



DELAINE MEEINOS AND BLACK TOPS. 



These two families have been bred by se- 

 lection from the original Spanish; the Black 

 Tops from the importation of 1802, the De- 

 laines from the Black Top foundation, with 

 some outcrosses of other Merino blood. The 



