THE WOOL BREEDS OF SHEEP 373 
mentioned above, by William R. Dickinson of Ohio, who 
began his improvement of Merino sheep in 1809. James 
McDowell became possessed of some of the Dickinson 
flock and created the McDowell strain of Dickinsons. 
The standard of excellence for Dickinson Delaines says 
that the sheep shall have a deep, round, wide and long 
body, showing mutton capacity, carrying heavy, thick 
flesh, the top- and under-lines straight, the skin smooth 
and pink and well filled out, being free from folds. The 
head may have small horns, but a polled head is pre- 
ferred. The fleece should be three to five inches long, of 
a quality to grade XX or XXX fine Delaine combing. 
Rams should shear fifteen to twenty-five pounds and ewes 
ten to fifteen pounds of unwashed wool. Mature rams 
should weigh 200 pounds, and mature ewes 150 pounds. 
The National Delaines are descended from an impor- 
tation of Merinos, made by R. W. Meade, in 1820. Alex. 
Reed, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, came into 
possession of a number of this importation the year fol- 
lowing, and his flock may be considered the foundation 
of the Delaine type. Many of the Reed flock were sold 
to other breeders in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, 
who developed the type, perhaps more than Reed had 
done. This type is not very different from the Dickinson. 
It has the smooth body, characteristic of the Delaine, 
almost free from folds. It does not seem to be desirable 
to dispense with folds altogether, as they appear to be 
associated with density and weight of wool. This 
family does not attain so large size as the Dickinson, 
running perhaps fifty pounds less for both male and 
female. The staple should reach three inches in a year, 
and the fleece should weigh up to nine pounds and be 
comparatively free from oil. 
