TINE WOOL SIIKEP IUSBANDRY. 79 
with them, instead of the production of a small 
annual surplus of rams and ewes to be sold at extra 
prices for breeding purposes. On the other hand, 
several persons in Connecticut and Vermont fortu- 
nately devoted themselves specially to breeding, and 
in their ardor to improve and to excel each other and 
the Saxon breeders, made great and beneficial changes 
in the characteristics of the breed. Accordingly, 
when the restoration of the American Merinos to 
public favor took place, about 1845, New England 
had choicer individual sheep than New York; and 
there was a general importation of them, and espe- 
cially of breeding rams, from the former into the 
latter, and into the other states lying west of New 
England. These importations superseded the families 
existing in those states, or were blended with them, 
and thus merged the individuality of the latter as 
separate families. J'rom that period, the American 
Paulars and Infantados* have been bred distinct in 
all parts of our country. Those who then procured Mr. 
Jarvis’s “mixed Leonese” sheep, have generally since 
crossed them with one or both the other families. 
It would be an instructive lesson could I accurately 
* T have no wish to impose a new name on the public for the 
“ Atwood sheep,” as they are commonly termed, but I adopt this 
designation myself, first, because I believe it to be the correct 
one; secondly, because it is convenient and proper to have a fam- 
ily name for these well-known sheep; and thirdly, because I can see 
no propriety in giving them permanently the name of an individual, 
who, if he deserves(as he undoubtedly does) great credit for pre- 
serving their blood unmixed, and effecting considerable improvements 
on the original stock, neither imported them nor brought them to 
their present high degree of perfection. If they are to be named 
after any man, that man should be Colonel TTumpbreys. 
