46 Sheep-Farming 



French Merinos 



The Ramhouillet. (Fig. 12, PI. II.) — Fine-wool 

 sheep have been bred in France since the close of 

 the eighteenth century. It was in 1783 that sheep 

 were brought from Spain to a farm at Rambouillet, 

 near Paris, under the patronage of Louis XVI. The 

 French government still maintains a flock at the 

 same place. Private breeders in France have worked 

 along the lines followed by those in charge of the 

 government flock, and the stock has become widely 

 known as Rambouillet or French Merinos. Later 

 on, this type of sheep was introduced into Germany 

 and a notable improvement effected in the flock of 

 Baron F. Von Homeyer of Rangin, Pomerania. 

 Many of the Rambouillets imported to America 

 since 1882 have been brought from Germany. From 

 1840 to 1850, several lots were brought to eastern 

 states. The breed was introduced to Ohio in 1851, 

 and in that state and in Michigan has been bred very 

 successfully. 



The French and German breeders have aimed to 

 produce a type of sheep that differs markedly from 

 the original Spanish type, and that is also quite dis- 

 tinct from any of the American types. The mutton 

 qualities are more developed in RamouiUet than in 

 any other flne-wool sheep. They are a growthy 

 sheep with large, strong frames, heavy bone, and 

 commonly having considerable length of leg. They 



