EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RiVER. 79 



to breed lambs for the market, but lie did not think it consistent with 

 his ideas of propriety to accept it; nor did he wish the lambs killed, 

 and his object in increasing the numbers and spreading the breed thus 

 defeated. He gave up the management of his farm to his neighbor 

 and tenant, Thomas Bones, on shares, and with it the full-blooded sheep. 

 Neither the tenant nor those succeeding him held the sheep in proper 

 estimation, though every endeavor was made to impose it upon them; 

 and, notwithstanding the great demand for the breed, the lambs were 

 sold, year after year, to the butchers at the prices, or nearly so, given for 

 those bred from common sheep. It was not until about 1809 or 1810 

 that Judge Peters's tenant discovered their value, by the greatly in- 

 creasing demand for them, which was much greater than could be 

 supplied. This demand was created by the experience of those who 

 had been convinced, by their own observation, of their superior excel- 

 lence. The flock was so reduced that, in a pecuniary point of view, this 

 late conviction of the value of the breed was to Judge Peters of very 

 little importance, but his tenant took pains to recover his lost time and 

 opportunity. Others, however, had been more careful to preserve the 

 highly valuable race. These facts were mentioned by Judge Peters in 

 1810 to account for these sheep not being very extensively known and 

 estimated up to that time. His endeavors at getting the sheep into 

 credit were for a long time very unpromising ; he had insensibility as 

 well as prejudice to combat; nor did they readily yield. 



" Experience in the affairs of the world too often shows," remarked 

 Judge Peters, "that whatever intrinsic merit a salable article may 

 possess, the price in the market is the criterion by which its value is 

 generally estimated," and it is not unlikely that his object of spreading 

 this breed of sheep and inducing care and attention to them would 

 have been (taking mankind as we find them) more effectually accom- 

 plished by demanding large sums for even the few he could have sold, 

 or hired out as tups, at high prices. If any new proofs of this view of 

 the subject were wanting the daily instances of purchases at prices 

 novel and astonishing in the country made of the Spanish Merino 

 would afford them. The zeal prevailing in the community for the 

 breeding of this or any other estimable addition to our stock of domes- 

 tic animals did not exist at the time the Tunis sheep made their first 

 appearance, but in 1810 the prospect was flattering for all good breeds 

 of sheep, and particularly for the Merino, which impressed all with the 

 value of its wool. 



In Spain, where the Merino was bred particularly for its wool, the 

 Tunis or Barbary sheep supplied the tables of the wealthy with mutton. 

 Our country is extensive enough for many different races, and some 

 may thrive where others will not. Experience had shown that in the 

 South, notably in South Carolina, the Tunis sheep descended from 

 Judge Peters's stock was preferred to all others, and here and in North 

 Carolina they were bred pure, For reasons connected with the im- 



