CHAPTER XLIV 



THE AMERICAN MERINO^ 



The Spanish Merino as the parent of the American Merino 

 should receive a brief consideration introductory to this breed. 



The native home of the Merino is in Spain, in southern Europe. 

 The country is quite variable in character, the interior consisting 

 of plains as well as long ranges of mountains, some of which are 

 many thousand feet high. There are numerous rivers and deep 

 valleys. The climate is generally dry and mild in the lowlands, 

 and oranges, citrons, olives, and grapes are commonly produced ; 

 while on the plains and mountain sides are extensive pastures, 

 where in times past large flocks have grazed. On the lower, 

 richer lands the sheep are larger than on the drier, poorer soils 

 or more elevated mountains. 



The origin of Merino sheep is merely ■ speculative. In 1809 

 Livingston stated ^ that many supposed Merinos were originally 

 introduced from the coast of Barbary in Africa by Don Pedro IV 

 of Spain. It has been assumed by others that the parent stock 

 existed in Spain prior to the Christian Era, and that this was 

 improved by the introduction of Tarentine sheep from Tarento, 

 southern Italy. Lucius Columella, a famous Latin writer on agri- 

 culture, who wrote during the first century, is said to have intro- 

 duced these A.D. 41, and he also imported African rams. The 

 people of Carthage and Phoenicia in northern Africa brought 

 fine-wooled sheep to Spain, as did probably other invaders also. 

 The sheep of Spain in those days were of various colors, — white, 

 black, red or tawny, the red fiber being of the finest quality. 



Sheep husbandry in Spain was for centuries an important in- 

 dustry. Historians at the beginning of the Christian Era, especially 



1 The word " Merino " is Spanish, signifying governor of a small province and 

 likewise one who has care of the pastures or cattle in general. He receives his 

 appointment from the king, is a person of rank, and is termed " Merino Mayor." 



^ Robert R. Livingston, Essay on Sheep. Albany (N. Y.), 1809. 



488 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



