INTRODUCTION OP MERINOS INTO THE UNITED STATES. 75 



an eighth Escjirials, and the other eighth Montarcos andJNe- 

 grettis. These I put on the farm in Weathersfield, Vt., that 

 I bought after my return to the United States, and also drove 

 up about a hundred, the remainder of those I had shipped to 

 Boston, In compliance with the invariable practice in Spain, 

 -I bred the respective flocks separately, or what in farmer's 

 language is called in and in ; the custom in Spain having 

 existed from time immemorial, of breeding the bucks and 

 ewes of the same cabanna or flock together, or in and in ; 

 but in about 1816 or 1817, I mixed the different flocks to- 

 gether, and have so bred my Merinos ever since." 



An importation of Rambouillet Merinos was made by an 

 enterprising citizen of Connecticut several years since, 

 which is properly noticed under the head of French Sheep. 



The average weight of the Spanish Merino fleece has al- 

 ready been given ; that of the American Merino may be 

 safely, under good management, stated at 3^ lbs. ; small 

 flocks, however, which are apt to receive better attentions 

 than large, will yield about 4 lbs. ; but recently, instances 

 have been recorded, where the flocks have been unusually 

 well selected, and fed, an average of 4i to 5 lbs. has been 

 obtained. High feeding has much to do in increasing the 

 weight of the fleece, as will appear hereafter. 



An enterprising feeling is abroad over large portions of 

 our country for wool improvement, and public attention has 

 latterly been directed to the Merinos to forward this im- 

 portant "branch of agriculture. This is right. There exists 

 no hardier breed than the Merinos ; and for the small flock 

 proprietor, whose locality is cold and exposed, "they are 

 especially well adapted. To the Merinos we must look for 

 the greatest general ''improvement of the fleece throughout 

 our widely-extended country. 



FRENCH SHEEP. 



With the exception of the celebrated Rambouillet Merino 

 flock, near Paris, there is little to interest the American 

 wool-grower relative to the sheep «.nd sheep husbandry of 

 France. 



The breeds are varied as the face of the country, and none, 

 except towards the more southern parts of the kingdom, that 

 yield a fleece possessing much intrinsic excellence either 

 for the purposes of combing or cloth. This appears some 

 what singular, considering the aptitude of the French nation 



