634 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



there have been introduced into this country a number of the German 

 Rambouillet sheep, a fine pair of whicli were presented by Baron Yon 

 Homeyer, of Pomerania, Prussia, to Messrs. Towusend, Grinnell, and 

 Wyclioff, of Michigan, in 1890. They are of immense size and are con- 

 sidered marvels of beauty. An ilhistration of them is presented. 

 How they will thrive in Michigan remains to be seen. In Texas these 

 German Eambouillet rams have been used for a few years to cross upon 

 common Merino ewes. Mr. Carl Goeth, of Cypress Mills, Tex., states 

 that while he "and everybody is satisfied that this cross is the best we 

 can use for mutton breeds, and the yearlings are as heavy as any older 

 sheep in the flock, yet the lightness of the fleece is objected to." The 

 heaviest fleece Mr. Goeth sheared from 7 Eambouillet rams he received 

 from Germany weighed 19 pounds and the lightest 12J pounds. To 

 obtain heavier fleeces it was proposed to use Eambouillet rams with 

 heavy fleeces and wrinkles, and Mr. Goeth was of the firm belief that 

 the problem how to produce a heavy sheep with heavy fleece would be 

 solved by using these wrinkled Eambouillet rams upon the cross of the 

 smooth Eambouillet and common Merino ewes. 



It was with much reluctance that some of the Michigan sheep-raisers 

 and wool-growers abandoned fine- wool growing, gave up their pui'e-bred 

 Merinos and turned their attention to the English breeds of mutton 

 sheep, their cross on the Merinos and on each other. Wool had been so 

 long the primary and almost wholly the object of sheep-raising that 

 when the change was force:! upon them it was like taking a fresh start 

 and engaging in a new undertaking. This change took place about 

 1883, at which time less than 10 per cent of the sheep had English 

 blood. Near the cities the Southdowns, Leicesters, and a few of other 

 breeds were known and appreciated, but the Ootswolds were the gen- 

 eral standby throughout the State as a strictly mutton sheep and to 

 cross on the Merinos. These sheep were also crossed on the so-called 

 common ewes and produced lambs which sold, after weaning, without 

 feeding, for $i to $5 per head. The Cotswolds have declined greatly in 

 popularity and are exceeded in numbers by the Downs,' but they still 

 have some warm admirers. They have given way to the greater popu- 

 larity of the Shropshires. 



By those who believe that mutton should be the primary and wool 

 the secondary consideration in sheep husbandry, or who seek a happy 

 combination of both in the same sheep, the Shropshire is looked to as 

 this double or all-purpose sheep. They are very prolific, producing 

 often 140 to 150 per cent increase, and the lambs fatten readily at any 

 age. The grades from common ewes shear fleeces of good wool, make 

 large lambs, and yearlings of this class frequently weigh 200 pounds, 

 though more generally 160 to 180 pounds. Pure Shropshire ewes from 

 one to three years old weigh ICO to 250 pounds, according to condition, 

 and mature rams from 175 to 300 pounds and over. They shear, accord- 

 ing to care and generosity of feeding, fleeces weighing from 8 to 18 



