EAST OP THE MISSISSIPPI EIVEE. 

 Sheep and wool in New Hampshire, 1840 to 1890. 



333 



Of the 192,824 sheep, as estimated in the State in 1890, 20 per cent 

 are the common or native sheep and crosses on them, and 20 per cent 

 Merinos of various grades. Sixtyper cent are sheep of English blood, and 

 this stock is rapidly increasing at the expense of the common and Me- 

 rino grades. The common sheep is being improved, the Merino grades 

 are disappearing. But few fuU-blood Merinos remain in the State, 

 these are of great excellence and are well and carefully bred. The 

 flocks of heavy sheep kept in northern New Hampshire — and the same 

 may be said of those in northern Vermont — usually are not pure bred, 

 but have a mixture of Leicester and Cheviot blood, and are oftener 

 kept in flocks of from 12 to 20 than in excess of these numbers. The 

 returns for January, 1892, show a decrease of over 4,000 since 1890, and 

 an improvement in condition and quality. 



There were but few Merino sheep imported directly into Maine ports, 

 and of these mention has been made elsewhere. Little was done in 

 regard to raising sheep in the State, except a few of the common breeds, 

 kept by some farmers for mutton and to supply wool for the household 

 manufacture, until the war of 1812. As early as 1813 a few farmers in 

 Winthrop, among whom were S. and E. Wood, Mr.PuUon, and Dr. Snell, 

 met to discuss the question of the introduction of the Merino, and after 

 deciding that the climate might suit and that the venture would be 

 profitable concluded to try the experiment, and made a purchase of 40 

 lambs of William Jarvis at $12.50 per head. The next purchase was 

 made in 1814 of 40 more lambs of Mr. Jarvis, at $25 per head, and 

 again in 1815 the same number, at $50 per head. The cold but dry and 

 bracing, air of the winter was found very congenial to the Merinos, and 

 they did well. No more purchases were made by the Winthrop men, 

 but between 1812 and 1815 the sheep were extensively introduced by 

 others. 



The reverses of 1815 having put an end to the profits on wool, many 

 who had formed flocks and others who were commencing to do so sold 

 them to the butchers and relniquished the business. A few, however, 

 knowing the intrinsic value of the animal, persisted in breeding them, 

 and many fine flocks were subsequently found in the State. Governor 



