E4.ST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



601 



the plainer, larger slieep of eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania — 

 tlie Delaiae type. Crosses of the long and middle wool rams or Merino 

 ewes are growing in favor, for which the many fine English breeds of 

 sheep now established in the State give great advantages. Before 

 considering these breeds and their crosses we will note some addi- 

 tional data of the Merino. 



At the shearing of the Northern Illinois Merino Sheep-Breeders' 

 Association in 1881 15 rams and 8 ewes were shorn of 470 pounds of 

 wool, an average of 20|^| pounds each. One ram gave 30^ pounds ; one 

 29; one, 27 J; two, 25 J; one, 21; and three, 23 J. A seven-year-old ewe 

 gave 19 pounds; one gave 18|, and two 15 J each. 



At a shearing of the same association in 1884 13 rams and 14 ewes 

 gave 445J pounds of wool, an average of 16|-f pounds each. The heav- 

 iest ram fleece weighed 30f ijounds. Two weighed 27 J pounds each, two 

 22f poiinds each, and two 22 pounds each. The heaviest ewe fleece 

 weighed 17f pounds, the next 16 pounds, and two weighed 15J pounds. 



At the shearing of the same association in 1885 12 rams and 10 ewes 

 gave 3C7 pounds of wool, an average of 16J| pounds each. The heavi- 

 est ram fleece was 30| pounds; two ewes gave 19 pounds each. The 

 live weight and yield of wool for the five heaviest in each sex is here 

 given : 



Five-vear-olcl ram 



^Dn 



Two-y(;ar-old rum 



Do 



Bo 



Two-vt;:u--old ewe. 



'l)(i 



Do 



Do 



Do 



Weight of 

 carcass. 



Tounds. 

 ri:\ 

 115 

 11]* 

 127" 

 80 

 87 

 65 

 102 

 9-1 

 60 



Weight of 

 fleece. 



l^ounds, 

 30J 

 22i 

 22i 

 21 i 

 21i 

 19 

 19 

 15i 

 15i 

 15 



In 1887 E. E. Gilbert, of Wauconda, sheared from 6 two-year-old 

 rams l-tO| pounds of wool, an average of 24| pounds each. The weight 

 of each fleece and the days' growth follow: 



