366 THE BREEDS OF LIV E-STOCK 
Saxony. These were naturally among the finest wooled 
of Merinos, and in their new home more attention was 
paid to this quality; so much attention, in fact, that the 
sheep themselves lost stamina and hardiness and became 
very delicate and hard to raise. The wool of these sheep, 
however, is of extraordinary fineness and beauty. They 
yield about two to three pounds of washed wool per 
head. There are not many breeders of pure Saxon sheep 
in America, although they have been bred to some extent 
in western Pennsylvania and Virginia. This family is 
now almost extinct. 
Silesian, or German Merino. — This breed was estab- 
lished in Silesia by an importation of Infantado and 
Negrette Merinos in 1811, although importations had 
been made earlier with some success, notably those of 
Von Vinke in 1768 and 1778. Since that day they have 
been bred pure, principally on the estate of Ferdinand 
Fischer of Wirchenblatt. For many years a careful 
record of each sheep has been kept on this estate. Sile- 
sian ewes shear eight to eleven pounds of unwashed wool, 
the rams twelve to sixteen pounds. The wool is two to 
three inches long, dark on the outside, not gummy, 
but with a white, clear oil. The ewes weigh 110 to 130 
pounds and the rams 145 to 155 pounds. There have 
been many Silesians imported into America. Mr. Wm. 
Chamberlin, of New York, imported 246 head between 
1851 and 1856. It is probable that at this day most 
Silesians in America have become merged with one or 
the other of the larger Merino families. 
Australian Merino. — As has been said, the Merino is 
the leading sheep in Australia, which places Australia at 
the head of the list of Merino sheep-producing countries. 
Taken to New South Wales in 1797, the sheep found the 
