EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI EIVER. 513 



(12) Ears, medium size, set well ii.psirt, thickly coated 2 



(13) Neck, short ou toji, deep and strongly attacked to the shoulders, taperiug 



to head ; rams with a fold across the hreast, and deep neck 4 



(14) Fleece covering over the entire body, head, and legs ; skin thick and 



spongy 4 



(15) Legs, short, strong, and well apart 2 



(16) Feet, neatly shaped, thin hoof, well set unaer the leg 4 



(17) Quarters, deep and well rounded; hack, broad, straight, and strongly 



coupled to quarters - 10 



(18) Weight of ewes at maturity, 100 pounds and abovi' ; rams, 150 and above .. 8 



(19) General appearance, good carriage, bold and vigorous style, symmetrical 



form 5 



Perfection 100 



There has been an increasing demand for Delaine sheep from various 

 parts of the United States, and in many places the Washington County 

 sheep are taking possession of tlie ground formerly occupied by the 

 Vermont and New York Merinos. They are steadily gaining ground in 

 western Pennsylvania and in Ohio, particularly in the southern part of 

 the latter State, and have some favor in northern Ohio, where the sheep 

 husbandry was founded on the eastern Merino. A factor in the popular- 

 ity of this sheep, as well as the Dickinson Merino and the Black-Top, 

 to which it is closely allied, is that it has mutton capacity. Pittsburg 

 is regarded as one of the best mutton markets in the country, and no 

 better mutton gets to it than some whicli come from under the fleeces 

 of the Delaine and Black-Top sheep of Washington County. 



In 1883, a year following the formation of the Delaine Association, 

 the Black-Top Spanish Merino breeders also formed an association to 

 perpetuate their family, claimed by them as the " oldest pure-bred fam- 

 ily in the community." The formation of this association and the scale 

 of points adopted have been noted. The Black-Top Merinos tend more 

 toward the Saxony quality in their staple than some of the other Merino 

 families bred in the county, where the length of staple has been sought 

 for without so much regard to fineness. 



A measurement of a three-year old Avether from the flock of Matthew 

 Berry is given: 



irt. In. 



Along the side 3 10 



On back from tip of nose to base of tail 4 9 



Height 2 4 



Girth 4 2 



Width 1 7 



This wether weighed 182 iionnds, and on May 28, 1885, was shorn of 

 a 17-pound fleece. Breeding ewes from the same flock sheared 7 to 9 

 pounds of washed wool. 



There is a great similarity in the Black-Top and the Delaine Merino, 

 and an inexperienced eye would find some difliculty in selection. The 

 Black-Tops are about the same size as the Delaines, with slightly less 

 wool on the face and legs, and- are of a darker caste. They agree in. 



