92 FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 
fleece for the manufacturer, and the most valuable 
carcass for the butcher. 
“Since 1828 I have been seven times across the 
water, and at one time took a year and a half to visit 
every part of Europe, and examine the flocks and see 
the owners, hear all they had to say, and then use my 
own judgment. You are aware that the Spanish Me- 
rinos have become almost lost. They are so small, 
neglected, and miserable, that I would not take one of 
them even as a present. 
“Improved machinery, too, has had a ruinous effect 
on the Saxony flocks, as they have learned the art of 
using medium wool in the place of very fine. The 
sheep of Saxony, proper, are more than half a million 
less In number than ten years ago. 
“In France, the Royal flock (ow the private pro- 
perty of the Emperor), at Rambouillet, which, for 
years, attracted all the sheep masters of Hurope to its 
annual auction sale, bred the fleece so fine, and the 
animals so delicate, that they could no longer attract 
attention ; and, four years ago, they changed the plan, 
and now sell (when they can) at private sale. The 
sheep have no wool on the head or legs, and but little 
on the belly. They are ruined by high breeding. 
The wool is short and fine. 
“In France forage is more than double the price 
that it is in this country. The price of mutton is also 
about double, and the price of wool, on the average 
of the last fifteen years, about twenty-four to twenty- 
six cents per pound, always in the grease. Ewes’ 
fleeces average 14 Ibs. Gn flocks of 500), and 
rams 20 Ibs. to 24 Ibs. Say average weight for 
ewes (all ages) 100 lbs., and rams 200 lbs. One 
ram I bought (for 3,000 frances or §600) weighed 
809 lbs., carrying a fleece, unwashed, of thirty-two 
lbs. Fair estimate of loss, in cleansing, sixty per cent. 
“Tt is from this class of flocks I have selected my 
Merinos, It is from wool of this class that the fine 
