26 Sheep-Farming 



vegetation appear to have aided the Spaniards in 

 achieving their great success in breeding for wool. 



During the period of the domination of the Moors, 

 European civilization reached its highest point in 

 Spain. Agriculture and manufacturing were espe- 

 cially advanced. The city of Seville was the home 

 of the greatest weaving industry of the time, and no 

 less because of manufacturing skill than because 

 of the quality of Spanish wools that were unequaled 

 elsewhere. Although manufacturing declined with 

 the conquest of the Moors, the country continued to 

 furnish the finest quality of wool for export. A part 

 of the flocks was maintained continuously on the 

 farms of the central areas, where summer drouths 

 are less severe. A larger proportion was driven 

 to the northern part of the country for summer 

 pasture, much as western ranchmen of to-day move 

 their herds over long distances to secure summer 

 pasturage in the mountain regions. There was a 

 third type of Spanish sheep that was not bred for 

 wool as were the Merinos, but it has had no influence 

 abroad. 



Spain maintained her supremacy in wool-pro- 

 duction until the nineteenth century. Not until 

 nearly 1800 were sheep taken from Spain to establish 

 the industry in other countries. In 1788 and 1796, 

 the French government made large importations of 

 Spanish sheep, and a royal flock has since been main- 

 tained at Rambouillet near Paris. The outcome of 



