10 BULLETIN 94, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
than that of any other breed. They have two principal strongholds 
in this country. The first and most important is the range country 
west of the Mississippi, and the second is the fine-wool section of 
Ohio, which also embraces parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and 
Michigan. 
On the range a hardy sheep that will withstand seasons of drought 
and scanty food, that will band together in large flocks while feeding, 
and that will produce a good fleece is desired. The Merino fills these 
requirements. But it is also desirable to raise a crop of mutton lambs 
on the range. The Merino is distinctly inferior for this purpose, and 
as it seems to be difficult to secure a mutton breed that will suit range 
conditions in itself, the alternative has been taken of using ewes of 
Merino foundation and crossing a mutton ram upon them. The 
Delaine-type ewe has been especially popular for this purpose. 
In the fine-wool section of Ohio there are many purebred flocks 
of considerable size and note, and a large majority of the farmers* 
flocks are grade or purebred Merino. Much Vermont stock was 
taken to Ohio. The strongest fine wool of the world is produced in 
this region. The establishment of the Merino in this section has been 
to some extent due to the demand for breeding stock through the 
Vest. Xow that the demand has decreased because of the re- 
duction of the range and because of the "Western States producing 
most of their own breeding stock, it seems possible that the Merino 
will remain and a type be developed that will more nearly fulfill the 
mutton requirements of the markets as they exist to-day. Of late 
vears Merino ewes have been used for the production of "hothouse 
iambs." 
The Merino breed has been hampered with a superabundance of 
record associations. Some of these have been founded upon certain 
strains of the breed, only sheep descended from these strains being 
eligible for registry. The confusion caused by crossing A, B, and C 
types and by the existence of numerous record associations is with- 
out a parallel in American live-stock history. The number of socie- 
ties at the present time is not so great as formerly, as some of these 
have combined and others have dropped out of existence. The 
American & Delaine Merino Record Association, Delaware, Ohio; 
the Standard Delaine Merino Sheep Breeders' Association, Saline, 
Mich. ; the Vermont, New York & Ohio Merino Sheep Breeders' As- 
sociation, Delaware, Ohio; and the Michigan Merino Sheep Breeders' 
Association, Ann Arbor, Mich., are the principal remaining societies. 
THE RAMBOUILLET. 
The Rambouillet or French Merino breed was developed by the 
French Government for the purpose of securing a domestic supply of 
wool. In 1783, Louis XVI bought a large estate near the village of 
