EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI EIVEE. 517 



size, form, and symmetry wholly unlike those of the present day. In 

 most flocks, from 18i0 to 1850, everything was sacrificed in order to 

 gain the finest and highest priced staple without regard to constitution, 

 size, or form of the animal, and some of the very best flocks under this 

 system of treatment became worthless. When the craze for extremely 

 fine wool had run its course, the tide then set in the opposite direction 

 and carried everything with it, and heavy, greasy fleeces were the idols 

 of the hour. The flocks were nearly ruined and the wools fell in value. 



A few breeders, not carried away in either direction, continued to 

 breed in line from their best stock, producing a large, well-formed, 

 vigorous sheep, retaining at the same time the beautiful, white crimpy 

 wool of the Saxony. They have bred away the leggy characteristics of 

 the old Saxony, and now present a shorter, with a more compact and 

 square build to the carcass, and with more vigor and constitution. By 

 long jjerseverance the breeders claim to have attained their object, and 

 consider their improved Saxony an estabhshed breed, producing with 

 great regularity lambs of the highest order, both in regard to fleece and 

 body. An average yearling ram of this family measures 3 feet 8 inches 

 in leugth and 2 feet 3 inches in width across the shoulders. 



The model Saxon ram of the Washington County breeders of 1855 is 

 thus described: 



He should be of medium size, 3 feet 9 inclies from nose to root of tail ; 3 feet 2 

 inches around the body; around the flank 3 feet; in height 2 feet 3 inches, a little 

 longer than the Spanish Merino, and not quite so heavily built. The back almost 

 straight, broad over the kidneys ; body round ; the neck starting almost level with 

 the top of the shoulders, tapering and becoming round towards the head; the head 

 small and neatly set on ; no loose skin oh the upper part of the neck, or very little; 

 the hoof short and pointed; his eye bright; pleasant countenance, and tame; the 

 skin smooth and healthy looking. When walking with his side to you he should 

 look finished and gay. He should look and feel wooly, not stiff or hard, but soft. 

 The same for ewes. Fine wool on the forehead; wool on his crown fine; short, 

 downy-looking wool on his cheeks ; the under part of the neck as fine as possible 

 and crimped. The wool on the body to be as even as possible all over, and should 

 be crimped 24 to 28 crimps to the inch. It should be fine, soft, thickset or compact 

 on the sheep, and should stand straight out; the body well covered, the hip wool 

 soft and crimped. The wool clear white or cream color, moderately yolky, and the 

 surface of fleece a little dark. 



The standard description of the Improved Saxony and the scale of 

 points adopted by the association in 1884 are as follows : The sheep 

 should be strong, heavy boned, well proportioned, compactly built, 

 free from wrinkles or folds, short, well-set neck with only slight dewlap; 

 good carriage, stylish, large girt around the heart, and well-shaped 

 feet. The wool must grade XXX or above, long, white, dense, crimpy, 

 free from curly spots on top of shoulders or back, arid evenly over the 

 whole body. Sheep only producing the three highest grades of wool — 

 Picknic, Picklock, and XXX — are admitted to registry. 



