FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 7 
past, but does not come within the scope of this paper. 
It will be found described with sufficient fulness by 
Mr. Livingston, whose valuable “Essay on Sheep,” 
now recognized authority throughout the world, was 
laid before the New York State Agricultural Society 
in 1809.”* 
Livingston makes the following territorial classifica- 
tion of the Merinos in Spain at the opening of the 
present century: “Castile and Leon has the largest 
with the finest coats. Those of Soria are small, with 
very fine wool. Those of Valencia, which, like the 
last, do not travel, have fine wool, but a very short 
staple.” 
The Leonese Transhumantes, considered the best 
sheep of Spain, were the only ones which, ever at- 
tracted much foreign notice, and they composed the 
principal importations into the United States. Some 
of the most esteemed families of them were thus 
briefly characterized, by Lasteyrie, one of the best 
informedt+ and most reliable writers, early or late, in 
respect to the Merino: 
* T have thus termed the Society, because it will convey a more 
correct impression to many readers of the present day, than to give 
it its actual designation, which was, “The Society for the Promotion 
of Useful Arts.” It was the lineal ancestor of our present organi- 
zation. 
Robert R. Livingston, LL. D., Secretary of Foreign Affairs under 
the American Articles of Confederation, Chancellor of New York, 
&e., &c., went as American Minister Plenipotentiary to France in 1801. 
He there gave much attention to the Merinos preparatory to an im- 
portation of them. He is an able,-and in matters of fact, extremely 
reliable, writer. He was one of the most spirited and influential 
agricultural improvers in our country, and is never to be forgotten as 
the patron and coadjutor of Fulton. 
+ Lasteyrie travelled into every country in Europe, where the 
