236 The Agricultural Features of the Paris Exhibition. 
Rambouillet, in the Department of Seine-et-Oise. In 1800 
another importation was made ; and during the many years that 
have since elapsed, the flock thus founded has been managed 
with a perseverance and intelligence that reflect the highest 
credit on the country. The Rambouillet flock, indeed, has 
acquired qualities so widely different, not only from the stock 
from which it sprung but also from the general body of Merinos 
as they appear over the country at the present day, that it has 
come to be reg-arded as a distinct branch of the breed bearing 
the name of Rambouillet. The Merinos in Austria, and the 
surrounding region of the Continent are called Negretti-Merinos ; 
and in Germany Electoral-Merinos, the title in the latter case 
having been assigned from the circumstance that in 1765 the 
Elector of Saxony introduced the breed into Germany from 
Spain. 
Though differing in a slight degree, neither of these two 
varieties has such distinctive characteristics as the Rambouillet 
stock of France. In his admirable report on " The Agricultural 
Features of the Vienna Exhibition" (published in part i., vol. x., 
second series of this Journal), Professor Wrightson dealt spe- 
cially with the characteristics of the Merino breed. It will 
therefore suffice here to state in a few words that originally the 
Merino sheep were unequalled for their yield and quality of wool, 
but were very inferior in the production of mutton. The Govern- 
ment officials who had charge of the Rambouillet flock, desirous 
of obtaining a double revenue from the breed, turned their atten- 
tion at an early period to the improving of the size and sym- 
metry of the frame, and the increasing of the weight of the fleece, 
which before had been noted more for its quality than its weight. 
They kept the breed pure, but so carefully and systematically 
did they carry out the process of selection, that in both respects 
their efforts were eminently successful. The originally high 
quality of the wool was modified slightly, but this was more 
than compensated for by the increase in the weight of the fleece 
and in the strength and length of the staple. Early maturity 
and capacity to take on flesh were next cultivated, and that too 
with almost equal success. The stock that have been reared 
during recent years e\t Rambouillet are, we believe, as different 
from the animals that were stationed there in 1786 as it is pos- 
sible to conceive. The breed has been transformed in outline 
and characteristics. The Rambouillet flock has earned a world- 
wide reputation ; and between 1797 and 1872, no less than 
3,472,343 francs (about 138,893/.) were received from the sale 
of its wool and surplus stock. During that period 4309 rams, 
3581 ewes, and 3025 mutton-sheep, and 131,165 kilograniJnes 
(about 130 tons) of wool, were sold from this establishment. 
