486 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



otlier western territory, and many of them were Merinos. A letter from 

 Eobbstown, Westmoreland County, published December 4, 1811, says: 



From October 6 to November 6 (1811) 236 wagons and otlier wheeled carriages 

 passed througb this place to Ohio with families — with i of the small wagons were 60 

 persons — within the same time 600 Merinos passed in the same direction. 



This gives but a faint idea of the continuous movement. Along its 

 trail were left lame and worn-out, exhausted sheep, singly, in pairs, and 

 by the score. Where it was possible they were sold to the settlers on 

 the route ; when they could not be sold a meal, lodging or something 

 else was taken in exchange. Some were left behind without recom- 

 pense; in any event many sheep were thus distributed to the great gain 

 of that section of country. 



In 1817 several hundred Merinos were taken to Meadville, Pa., by 

 Judge Griffiths, of New Jersey, and H. J. Huidekoper, agent of the 

 Holland Land Company, and became the source of many fine flocks in 

 Crawford County. 



The crossing of these full-blood and high-grade Spanish Merinos on 

 the hardy, common sheep of the pioneers produced an excellent wool- 

 growing sheep over all western Pennsylvania, and farmers made great 

 improvement in them, and raised many full-blood and grade flocks. 

 Prom 1827 to 1835 the Saxony sheep and their grades were introduced, 

 chiefly from the flocks of Wells and Dickinson, of Steubenville, Ohio, 

 This cross reduced the weight of fleece without a corresponding increase 

 in price. Prom 1845 to 1850 efforts were made to remedy this deficiency 

 in the fleece by the use of full-blooded Spanish or French Merino rams. 

 The latter were at first preferred and in 1848 some were introduced. The 

 opinion was entertained by most breeders that the Preuch Merino would 

 make a fine cross with the Saxon and Spanish Merino flocks. They 

 were heavy-boned, rough built and in no way handsome, but of large 

 vigorous frames, the rams weighing at four years old 150 to 175 pounds 

 gross or live weight. The wool was not fine but of rather a harsh char- 

 acter. These sheep attracted considerable attention, but a fair trial in 

 several flocks led to their condemnation. They greatly injured the wool 

 of every flock into which they were introduced and growers disposed of 

 the produce as early as possible and eliminated the blood from their 

 flocks. They were not only hard to keep but required more feed by 

 about one-fourth than the Saxon or Spanish Merino. The rams cut 

 about 8 pounds of wool, when washed on the sheep, and the ewes 4 

 pounds. Among the very few who stuck to a small flock of these sheep 

 while nearly all were discarding them was John S. Goe, of Payette 

 County, who determined to give them an exhaustive trial. We have 

 the record of their shearings for tbree years. In 1856 2 rams gave 14f 

 and 15 pounds unwashed wool and 2 ewes 14g and 14| pounds. In 1857, 

 18 rams averaged 8J pounds washed wool. In 1859, 1 ram gave 22J 

 pounds of unwashed wool, and 8 ewes averaged lOJ pounds. Two ewes 

 averaged 8^ pounds washed on the back. At this shearing a Silesian 



