522 



SHEEP 



Hartford, Connecticut, consisting of 2 rams and 20 ewes from 

 the government flock of France. The head ram, named Grandee, 

 sheared 14 pounds and was regarded as a very fine specimen. 

 In 1846 this flock with its increase was sold to parties in Ver- 

 mont. In May, 1846, John A. Taintor of Connecticut imported 

 2 rams and 7 ewes which he purchased of Victor Gilbert. Follow- 

 ing this, Taintor made several other importations. In 1848 John 

 D. Patterson of Westfield, New York, on the western border of 

 that state, made an importation including many superior sheep, 



Fig. 232. One of the sheep barns on the government farm at Rambouillet, France. 

 From photograph by the author 



his ewes weighing from 120 to 150 pounds and some of his 

 rams up to 300 pounds. In 185 1 several different importatfons 

 of prominence were made. F. M. Rotch of New York is said 

 to have made an importation with Taintor of Connecticut. That 

 same year S. W. Jewett of Middlebury, Vermont, imported 18 

 rams and 82 ewes from Victor Gilbert, and George Campbell 

 of Westminster, Vermont, also made an importation. In 1851 

 a company of Ohio breeders imported about 50 head selected 

 from private flocks in France by A. P. Howard. Some of the 

 present Ohio flocks trace back to this importation as well as to 

 a later one of 188 1. In 185 1 the late R. C. Moulton of Wood- 

 stock, Ohio, established a flock of French Merinos, which he 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



