EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVEE. 



387 



equal 175 pounds for twelve months, and would make the yearly aver- 

 age a fraction over 9 pounds. The average live weight of these ewes 

 was 71 pounds each, but when fully grown would have been 80 to 90 

 pounds. The product of wool to live weight was 1 to 7-^\. 



Believing that a selection from this flock would supply an existing 

 want and prove acceptable to a large class of wool-growers in the coun- 

 try, Mr. Campbell made a purchase, and in May, 1851, 15 rams and 40 

 ewes from the Fischer flock arrived at New York for William Chamber- 

 lain, Bed Hook, Dutchess County, who was a partner with Mr. Camp- 

 bell in the transaction. Other importations were made in 1853, 1854, 

 and 1856, to the total of 34 rams and 212 ewes. 



The Silesians did not attract the attention vouchsafed the Saxon in 

 former days, and more latterly, though not to great degree, the French 

 Merino. So many experiments with imported sheep had resulted in 

 disastrous failure that farmers were wary and avoided them. 



In 1862 Mr. Chamberlain stated that his medium-aged ewes sheared 

 from 8 to 11 pounds j rams, from 12 to 16 pounds. The wool on his 

 sheep (8 months' growth) was IJ to 2 inches long. Their external color 

 was dark. The wool had oil, but no gum whatever, the sheep having 

 been bred so as to make them entirely free from gum. The oil was 

 white and free. 



Five ewes weighed 115, 140, 130, 115, and 127 pounds, and three 

 grown rams 145, 158, and 155 poundsj a yearling ram weighed 130 

 pounds. The ewes were from 24 to 28 inches highj fore leg, 11 to 12 

 inches; rams, 27 to 28 inches high; fore leg, 12 to 13 J inches. The 

 Silesians were hardy, much more so than a small mutton flock subjected 

 to the same treatment, and they were first-rate breeders and nurses. 

 They had not deteriorated, but the wool was fine without any reduction 

 in the weight of fleece. Take the average of the flock and the ewes 

 would weigh 110 to 115 pounds. In a few years the American- Silesian 

 had slightly increased in size. The shearing of a New York flock in 

 1856 shows the following weight of carcass and fleece: 



Fleece. 



Ham 



Urecding ewe 



X>o 



Do 



Do 



Yearling ewe 



Do 



Do 



The Silesian more nearly resembled the Spanish Merino than did the 

 French and Saxon, which were bred away from the characteristics of 

 the parent race. It was a high-bred Spanish sheep, with a fleece supe- 



