EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 567 



coming into a very prominent position. In some places tliey are super- 

 seding the Black- Top Merinos, to which they are closely allied. Others, 

 however, cling to the Merinos of their boyhood and find a profit in 

 them; not the Merinos of thirty- five years ago, clipping 2 to 4 pounds 

 of wool, but the descendants of those sheep on the same farm, which, 

 by care and attention, skillful treatment, and generous keep, give fleeces 

 weighing 8 to 10 pounds each. There are many such flocks throughout 

 the State, considered as good property and paying about as well as any 

 farm stock. 



l^otwithstanding the depression among the Ohio Avool-growers since 

 1883, most of them have retained their flocks, reducing them in num- 

 bers, it is true, but improving them by selection and increased care. 

 Weights of fleeces have not been generally published, but there has 

 been an increase, as in other States. In 1886 5 Ohio ewes are recorded 

 as shearing over 18 pounds of wool each, as follows : 



Pounds. 



3 years old 20 



3 years old 19 



3 years old 18f 



2 years old 204 



2 years old 19 



The number of sheep in the census years and the yield of wool are 

 given herewith. From 1840 to 1880 the figures are as returned by the 

 United States census. For 1890 the returns of the Department of 

 Agriculture are taken for the number of slieep, and the yield of wool is 

 estimated from data believed to be equally reliable : 



