XIV CONTENTS. 



hardy than the German Saxons — ohstacles in the way of American 

 breeders — ^will be cultivated with equal profit with Merinos — average 

 weight of American Saxon fleeces. 



Prussian Sheep. Exertions of M. Fink to improve the fleece of Prus- 

 sia — his experiments with Merinos crowned with success — importation 

 of Merinos by the government in 1786 — failure to do well — second 

 attempt- through M. Fink — resulted in success — agricultural schooV 

 established to teach the best modes of managing Merinos — M. 

 Fink's system in winter — Prussian fleeces now rival the best Saxon. 



SiLESiAN Sheep. Native sheep better than those of Prussia and Hun- 

 gary — the introduction of the Merinos effected great improvement — 

 Silesian wools now equal to Saxon. 



Hungarian Sheep. Native sheep of Hungary very inferior — Merinos 

 introduced by the Empress Maria Theresa — agricultural school es- 

 tablished to instruct in their management — rapid progress of wool im- 

 provement in Hungary — fleeces compete successfully with Saxon — 

 number of sheep in the Territory — ^flock of Prince Esterhazy. 



Swedish Sheep. The first Merinos carried from Spain taken to Sweden 

 in 1723 — introduced by Mr. Alstroemer — he triumphed over all diffi- 

 culties — agricultural school established — premiums awarded for the 

 best wool — mode of management in Sweden — the native sheep very 

 inferior. 



Danish Sheep. Native sheep conform to those of Sweden — Merinos 

 imported in 1797 under government patronage — crossed with native 

 breed — good eflects — wool exported. 



Iceland Sheep. The native breed very hardy — carry from two to six 

 horns — wool worthless for manufacturing. 



Russian Sheep. More attention to breeding of sheep than cattle — 

 wandering tribes possess many — great variety of breeds — cloth man- 

 ufacture — extensive flocks owned by the rich Tartars — Merinos in- 

 troduced — great improvement followed — wool exported from Odessa — 

 description of the character of Russian Merino wool. 



Australian Sheep. Character of the climate and herbage of Austra- 

 lia-^-subject to severe drought — no sheep indigenous to the country — 

 Bengal sheep introduced — their inferiority — South Downs and Leices- 

 ters exported from England — favorable cross with the Bengal sheep 

 — Merinos taken there — afterwards the Saxons by Captain McArthur 

 — description of Australian wool — its microscopic scrutiny by Mr. 

 Youatt — used much for the better combing purposes— quantity of 

 wool exported in 1843 — mode Of management of sheep in the colony 

 — sheep subject to foot-rot^— manner of washing — average weight of 

 the Australian fleeces 81 



CHAPTER V. 

 BRITISH BREEDS. 



Sooth Down. Classification of the British breeds — middle-wooled 

 breeds — superiority of the South Down — their location — Mr. John 

 Ellman — description of the old South Down — means of Mr. Ellman 

 to improve them — description of improved South Downs — a perfect 

 South Down described — endure sliort keep — their mutton — adapted 



