EAST OP THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 407 



A perfect animal of this type must be symmetrical and finished in out- 

 line, and harmonious in all its parts. " Back straight, ribs well arched, 

 shoulders deep, chest broad, breast-bone or brisket extending well in 

 front, lung cavity well distended, hips long, straight, and broad; thighs 

 heavily muscled and well let down; neck short and strong, without de- 

 pression on top; head broad, with short face; nose broad and well 

 wrinkled; legs medium length, straight, heavy-boned, and standing 

 well apart at knee and hock." In point of fleece, there has scarcely 

 been an effort to breed a fiber of sufficient fineness for broadcloth wools, 

 or staple long enough to be classed as delaine wool. Yet great efibrt 

 has been made to secure uniform length, density, and quality of fleece 

 on every part of the carcass, especially on the belly, thigh, forearm, and 

 between the neck folds, covering, as nearly as possible, the inside of 

 the flanks, armpits, the legs all around to the hoofs, with cap extend- 

 ing well over the face, covering the point between the eyes and horns, 

 well cheeked up from the face corner of eyes to mouth. But few persons 

 would prefer a staple of more than 2 J inches for a ram, while many 

 would be quite contented with a 2-inch staple of highly crimped wool, 

 provided the maximum density of fleece had been reached. Compara- 

 tive evenness of fleece, with little gare as possible, is an important 

 point reached by modern breeders, and is an improvement in the right 

 direction. Experience has demonstrated that great weight of fleece of 

 high medium quality can be combined with the highest physical devel- 

 opment and constitutional vigor and other points of perfection. As to 

 point of yolk or oil, the greatest amount that can be secreted without 

 impairing the vitality of the animal is admissible in a ram. Most 

 breeders prefer a color bordering on a buff, while a thin, sticky oil of a 

 greenish cast is highly objectionable. As to folds or wrinkles, which 

 are a distinctive feature of the American Merino type, there might 

 be some diversity of opinion as to size, location, and number; still, it 

 would be difficult to find a ram with such heavy, pendulous neck, tail, 

 and flank as to disqualify him as a stock animal in any flock, while 

 many would much prefer that with the above he should have a large 

 fold extending across the point of the shoulder, a considerable number on 

 the sides extending in massive proportions well under and nearly across 

 the belly, yet diminishing well in size, and lost to view in full fleece 

 before reaching the back, with numerous large folds lengthwise across 

 the hips and stifles. Those who fancy the delaine type aim in the main 

 to secure the same points of carcass and wooliuess as the breeders of 

 other American Merinos, while at the same time securing a long 

 staple of high quality of wool. As to folds or wrinkles, a good neck, 

 tail, and flank is about all that is desirable, with little or none on the 

 body.* 



* Register of the New York Sheep Breeders' Association. 



