FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 19 
ness, with American brook-washed Merino fleeces, 
we should not deduct more than one-third of the given 
gross weight. ‘There is something exceedingly un- 
satisfactory in statistics which are so vague as not to 
mention the respective number of rams and ewes, the 
fleeces of which go to make up a mean-weight—when 
all know the produce of the former is nearly double 
that of the latter.* But here we have something more 
definite, and it shows another decided stride upwards 
in the Rambouillet sheep. Lasteyrie, in his report to 
the National Institute in 1802, states “that the me- 
dium weight of fleece of full grown nursing ewes was 
8 Ibs. 7 oz.3 of the ewes of three years old, which had 
no lambs, 9 Ibs. 18 0z.; and two-tenths [grade] ewes 
10 Ibs. 8 oz.”+ By the rule of estimating above 
adopted, the Rambouillet grown ewes, sixteen years 
after the foundation of the flock, produced, on an 
average, not far from six pounds of wool, washed in 
the American way. 
It is true that Mr. Livingston’s own sheep, im- 
ported from France in 1802, bore less wool,f but it is 
evident that he made fineness, iristead of quantity of 
wool, the leading consideration in their selection. 
* Ag already said, not having Lasteyrie’s works to refer to, I am 
not certain that he does not supply this omission; but I think not, or, 
I should have quoted his statements on former occasions. 
+ Quoted by Livingston. 
+ Viz., in 180%, three ewes, having lambs, bore 11 Ibs. 12 oz., or 
nearly 4 lbs. each, of unwashed wool. In 1808, “he did not keep a 
separate account, but as they were in better order he thought the 
average was near 5 Ibs.” In 1809, seven ewes bore 36 lbs, or 5 Ibs. 
2oz perhead. The same year, his three rams bore, respectively, 
12 lbs. 14 oz., 9 Ibs.; and a ram fourteen months old, of “ uncommon 
size” (imported from France in 1808), bore 9 Ibs. 6 oz., all un- 
washed. 
