88 FINE WOOL SHEDP ILUSBANDRY. 
crease the heft very much. I enclose two samples of 
wool, from two of the ewes.”* 
I subsequently inquired of these gentlemen whether 
their French sheep were driven to the barns at night, 
and in rain storms in summer, or if they went there 
without driving. Their reply was, that they some- 
times drove them in during cold rain storms in the 
fall, but otherwise not; that, however, the sheep gen- 
erally went under shelter at all times when wetted by 
rain; that in fair nights they “seemed to prefer sleep- 
ing out in the yards.” The means used to guard them 
against dogs, brought them also to sleep on the dry 
straw of the barnyard, instead of the damp sod of the 
pasture. 
Introduction of the Silesian Merino, 
Still another Richmond was to appear in the field 
of competition—the exquisitely wooled Silesian Me- 
rino. The following account of its Introduction and 
characteristics, is contained in a letter to me from the 
principal importer of the variety, William Chamber- 
Jain, Esq., of Red Hook, New York. He writes: 
“Your favor, dated 24th ult., is received, and it 
gives me pleasure to furnish the required information 
in regard to my flock of Silesian sheep, with full lib- 
erty to make such use of the facts as you please. 
“Ist. I have made importations for myself and 
George Campbell of Silesian sheep, as follows: 
In the year 1851, say... ...- eee eee ee 40 ewes and 15 bucks. 
1858, eee ee eee nee oN a 
1854, eee eee eee 111 ee ee 
a 0:15); a 34 wg 
212 “B84 
* This letter is dated January 2, 1862. 
