598 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



as the Merinos reached, would give an annual and increasing income of 

 millions of dollars to the State. 



There arose from the disaster to the fine- wool industry a compensa- 

 tion in greater attention to the mutton sheep. The introduction of long- 

 wooled fabrics in all classes of woolen garments created a demand for 

 these wools, and there were some shrewd farmers in Illinois who saw 

 far enough ahead to form a conclusion that the animal which could 

 meet this demand and at the same time furnish mutton was to be the 

 coming sheep for the farmer. Consequently, these sheep increased 

 rapidly when the Merino was on its decline, and bade fair to supplant 

 it and to assume that prominence to which it was justly entitled in the 

 farming industry of a State famed for its flue grasses. Few farmers 

 were found in the State who could afford to do without sheep, and but 

 a few who had not grasses to feed them. In handling them no more 

 care was required than that which was due to all other stock. The 

 return in wool and lambs was comi)aratively steady and fairly remu- 

 nerative. In 1856 the number of fat sheep marketed in the State was 

 157,286, with a total gross weight of 14,155,740 pounds, valued at 

 $495,450. In 1865, the number marketed was 433,194, weighing 

 38,987,400 pounds, valued at $3,202,788. 



The census of 1870 gave Illinois 1,568,280 sheep, yielding 5,739,249 

 pounds of wool, an average of 3.66 pounds per head. The tariff of 

 1867 gave some protection to wool and caused a slight increase in fine 

 wool-growing. The common flocks of the State and some of the lower 

 grade Merinos were crossed with Vermont and New York rams, wool 

 advanced in firice, and the Merino was again iu favor. In 1872 J. E. 

 Morrison, of Bates, sheared a small flock of 10 sheep of 131^ pounds of 

 wool, an average of 13-i% x'ounds a head. The lightest fleece was 8 

 pounds and the heaviest 24J pounds. 



A celebrated flock of 1872 was that known as the Ballinger flock. 

 Fifty-nine head of this flock (7 rams, 33 old ewes, and 19 yearlings) 

 sheared 707yir pounds, just 9 ounces short of making an average of 12 

 pounds each. At the head of this flock was the ram "Prince Ballin- 

 ger," whose fleeces at 3, 4, and 5 years old weighed 71| pounds, one of 

 them 25^^ pounds. The weight of 14 ewe fleeces is given : 



Lbs. Oz. 



Four years of age 18 11 



Five years of age 16 8 



Three years of age 14 5| 



Six years of age 12 9| 



Four years of age 16 15^ 



iJ" 15 3J 



Seveu year.s of age ' \\ g 



Four years of age n g 



One year of age j^2 9 



J^o 11 11 



JJ" 8 8J 



Six years of age Ig ^^ 



Five years of age n g i 



Seveu years of age ]^3 ^i 



