Tlie Agricultural Features of the Paris Exhibition. 
237 
The great majority of the breeding-sheep, of course, were secured 
by Frenchmen and other breeders on the Continent of Europe ; 
but a good many went both to Australia and America. National 
breediner establishments have been formed and carried on sue- 
cessfully at other centres ; and the favourable influence which 
the movement has exercised on the rural industry of France can 
hardly be overestimated. From the preliminary notice referring 
to Merino Sheep in the Catalogue of the Exhibition, we quote 
the following : — 
" The Merinos are widely scattered over France ; and their introduction has 
caused quite a revohition in its agriculture. It has been the point of departure 
of numerous and important improvements, among which we may cite in the 
first instance the extension given to the cultivation of artificial meadows. A 
great part ot the native French flocks have been completely transfomied by 
the continue ! employment of Merino tups, the result of this absorption of the 
indigenous races by the Merinos beinc; that the absorbed races are now known 
as Metis-Merinos [or half-bred Merinos]. The most celebrated of the French 
Merinos are those of Soissonuais, " of Chatellonnais, of the Beauce, and of 
Cbampagne. To the hergeries in these different districts, as to the experi- 
mental btrgerie of Rambouillet, where the Merino race has remained pert'ectly 
pnre, foreign breeders come every year and buy breeding animals at the 
highest yjrices. During the last fifteen years the race has undergone some 
happy changes. In consequence of the decrease in the price of wool and the 
increase in the demand for mutton, the fleece of the Merino, as well as its con- 
formation and aptitude to fatten, have been singularly- changed. 1'hus we 
have to-day in France Merinos carrying sufiBcient wool — fine, long, soft, and 
strong — and furnishing, at an advanced age, mutton of much finer quality than 
formerly." 
The muster of Merinos, which v/ere naturally awarded the 
premier position in the Catalogue, was one of the most attrac- 
tive features of the Exhibition. Pure-bred and metis or half- 
bred Merinos were joined in competition ; and together they 
formed a display which has perhaps never been excelled, if 
indeed equalled by any other variety of the fleecy tribe. No 
fewer than 27y entries were made, and in each of the female 
pens there were three animals. The question as to the desira- 
bility of further improvement in the breed may be referred to 
afterwards. In the meantime it is gratifying to be able to say 
that the turn-out of Merinos was as remarkable in point of merit 
as in regard to numbers ; indeed, the improvement displayed, 
particularly in the size and symmetry of the body and in the 
cover of flesh, was quite wonderful. In America, where in many 
cases no attempt has as yet been made to develop the meat- 
producing properties of the breed — the ancient fine-woolled 
variety being still quite common — we have examined many 
large flocks of so-called pure-bred Merinos. Between these, 
however, and the French ones exhibited at Paris there was as 
much difference as between a third rate specimen of the Black- 
