86 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



sembles the sire in increased size and beauty of form and tlie dam in 

 tlie softness of the wool, a proof not to be disputed of the value of the 

 Barbary sheep at that time. The whole of the northern coast of Africa 

 presents scarcely a native African sheep that deserves cultivation, with 

 the exception of the Morocco breed. From time to time specimens 

 have been imported, but more as curiosities than as additions valuable 

 to our sheep and wool industry. 



Some "Syrian broad- tailed sheep were brought into the United States 

 in 1809, and again in 1810, but they have left no record. Others were 

 brought in later, and, in 1840, Thomas B. Jacobs, of Lancaster County, 

 Pa., reported that he had been very successful in raising full-blooded 

 and half-blooded Syrian sheep iiom the stock imported by Commodore 

 Elliott in 1838, and he thus describes them : 



The sheep are of the description called broad-tails, from the extraordinary size of 

 the tail. It is highly prized for mutton. It had also a fine iieece of remarkably 

 long wool, which is very superior for many manufacturing purposes. A pair of these 

 sheep yielded 9 pounds of wool last summer (1839) of fine staple. 



On August 29, 1811, George Ferris & Co., of N"ew York, offered at 

 public sale a full-blooded Woodland or Egyptian ram, one year old, 

 a breed, said the advertisement, " which bids fair to excel in value all 

 the Merino rams ever imported." It was of larger size, produced more 

 wool, and the meat was better than the Merino. The tail of this ram 

 was said to be 12 inches in breadth, and would weigh 40 to 60 pounds. 



Of far more importance were some straggling introductions of Eng- 

 lish, Irish, and continental breeds. Great Britain had stringent laws 

 against the exportation of sheep from her ports, despite which an occa- 

 sional one found its way into the United States. 



IRISH SHEEP. 



The large long-wooled she^ of Ireland found its way across the At- 

 lantic towards the close of the last century; first made its appearance 

 in Virginia, where it was known as early as 1789, and then showed 

 itself in various parts of the Middle States and New England. In 

 Virginia it wasbut partially extended, but where known much esteemed 

 for its size. A ram of this breed only 2 years old was sheared by 

 Capt. Amos Eainger, of Barre, "Worcester County, Mass., in 1802, which 

 produced 11| pounds of the finest wool. His sire was brought from 

 Ireland by Capt. Eainger. This phenomenal fleece, for that time, was 

 considered as a great improvement, and the particular attention of the 

 farmers of the country was called to this invaluable sheep. 



In July, 1809, two rams and two ewes of this Irish breed were ex- 

 hibited at the first show of the Pennsylvania Society for the Improve- 

 ment of Breeds of Cattle, held at Philadelphia. One of the rams was 6 

 years old, and of great size. He was the sire of a wether fattened and 

 killed early that spring, whose live weight was 276 pounds. One of 

 the two rams was sold to a Mr. Sloane, of New Jersey, for $45, and a 



