fod 
RACES OF SHEEP 237 
and have less folds and wrinkles than the parental Merino. Closely 
related to these, but still of the original family, are the Black Top 
Spanish Merino, the Improved Black Top and the Dickinson. All 
Delaine Merinos have horns and more or less folds ‘or wrinkles 
about the neck and breast. The Black Tops have blacker fleeces, 
no wrinkles, and have horns. The Dickinson type is without 
horns or wrinkles and larger in size, with a longer wool. 
For a great many years the Merino in its several varieties has 
been our most popular sheep. They have been used extensively 
in crossing on the western range sheep where the fleece has become 
light and open. When mature the ewes weigh 100 to 160 pounds, 
the rams 140 to 190 pounds. The fleece in ewes will weigh nine to 
15 pounds, and in rams from 12 to 20 pounds or more. These sheep 
are hardy, one of the hardiest breeds, and adapt themselves to vari- 
ous conditions of climate, care and food equally as well, if not bet- 
ter, than any other breed. They can be herded in flocks of great 
size, which is not possible of the mutton breeds. They mature 
slowly, are ideal of grazing, but their feeding qualities are inferior 
to the mutton breeds. When crossed with the mutton breeds their 
mutton is more tender and juicy. 3 
2. Rambouillet—Years before Spanish Merinos were 
brought to this country others had been taken to France 
and in time were changed and improved into the Ram- 
bouillet. The French breeders were the first to produce 
a Merino combing wool, from which have developed 
some of the most interesting and profitable branches of 
wool manufacturing. Sheep of this particular breeding 
have greatly improved in mutton form, quality of flesh 
and weight. These improvements have come from within 
RAMBOUILLET EWE RAMBOUILLET RAM 
