524 SHEEP 



being hardy nor suited to American conditions, and the interest 

 declined along in the sixties, to be revived about thirty years 

 later. Reference has been made to the Von Homeyer family of 

 Rambouillets produced in Pomerania, Germany. In 1880 W. G. 

 Markham of New York State, when on a visit to wool-producing 

 countries, inspected the Von Homeyer flock and looked on it with 

 much favor. In 1882 he received a gift of a ram and 2 ewes 

 from Von Homeyer, and these were the first of this German 

 breeding to be brought to America. In 1885 Markham received 

 7 rams from the same source, 2 of which were shipped to 

 Michigan, where they produced material improvement in the 

 flocks where used. In 1890 Thomas Wyckoff of Orchard Lake, 

 Michigan, purchased a pair of Rambouillets from Baron von 

 Homeyer, these being the first brought to Michigan. Again, 

 in 1 89 1, Wyckoff imported 7 rams and 16 ewes from the 

 Von Homeyer flock, and these were distributed among the Ram- 

 bouillet men of Michigan. In 1893 Mr. Markham supervised an 

 exhibit of Von Homeyer sheep at the World's Columbian Expo- 

 sition at Chicago which attracted widespread attention by their great 

 size and superior merit. Many large importations of Rambouillets 

 were made for a period of ten years or more following the Chicago 

 show, of which a considerable portion came from Germany. 



Characteristics of the Rambouillet. This variety or family of 

 Merino does not differ essentially in appearance from the Delaine 

 except in size and breeding. The head is large, the nose is covered 

 with white silky hair, and the ears are inclined to be large and are 

 covered with fine white hair or short fine wool. The rams usually 

 have large spirally turned horns, but there are also polled males, 

 and the females are hornless. The general form of the Ram- 

 bouillet shows more grossness and bone than the Delaine. Indi- 

 viduals of the breed range from a distinctly C type, essentially 

 free from folds, to those of B type, with well-marked folds about 

 the neck, breast, flanks, and hind quarters. For this reason the 

 Ohio State Fair for some years has provided separate B and C 

 classes for Rambouillet sheep through all the age classes and pens. 

 These classes have not been entirely satisfactory, for the reason 

 that some exhibitors persist in showing sheep in one type class 

 that belong in the other. .Rambouillet breeders do not seem 



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