THE CULTIVATOR. 153 
almost any other, and for those landholders and farmers who build for 
the accommodation of their tenants, I consider it a most excellent one 
to follow. I am about building one on a farm of my own for the ma¬ 
nager to live in, sufficiently capacious to accommodate his own family 
and half a dozen hired men. Its whole expense will not exceed a thou¬ 
sand or twelve hundred dollars, and if opportunity offers, I may send 
you the plan in some future communication. 
Most truly and respectfully yours, L. F. ALLEN. 
Buffalo, December 5, 1835. 
SHEEP HUSBANDRY—No. III. 
THE EMIGRANT MERINO. 
There does not appear to be among those who write and converse on 
the Saxony and Merino sheep, a distinct and definite understanding of 
the subject. By most people they are regarded as distinct races of 
sheep; and designated by many imaginary distinctions. 
To whatever region the Spanish Merino has emigrated, he is to be 
identified with the original, like the greyhound. Thence arises the in¬ 
quiry, where has he been preserved in the greatest purity? held in the 
highest estimation and cultivated with the most care ? in Saxony, 
France, or America? And when we talk about old fashioned merino 
sheep, it must at the same time be understood, that one variety of the 
parent stock is four times as valuable as others, and that this necessa¬ 
rily influences the emigrant, and determines his value. Then comes 
the consideration of individual peculiarity and excellence, which lorms 
the basis of improvement, and the preservation of his purity. 
The first emigration of the Spanish merino with which we have any 
acquaintance, was to Saxony; whose history has been partially narra¬ 
ted in the first No. 
The second was to France, in both instances under circumstances of 
sovereign, or state patronage. This second I shall furnish principal¬ 
ly from a transcript of the writings of others. 
“• When France became a manufacturing, as well as an agricultural nation, 
it was perceived how great an injury she sustained by being dependent on fo¬ 
reigners for all the fine wool which she employed, and it was well understood 
how great would be the advantages whicli she would derive from the produc¬ 
tion of it w ithin herself. 
“ This subject occupied the serious attention of Colbert, whom nothing es¬ 
caped which might tend to the advantage and greatness of his country—he 
projected a change in the system which prevailed. Succeeding ministers at¬ 
tempted without effect to p it his designs in execution. 
“ It was not until the year 17(56, that Daniel Charles de Trudaine, an able 
minister, employed the surest means of succeeding, and thus freeing the 
kingdom from the tri ute which it paid to procure fine wool. After his death, 
his place was supplied by his son, who followed the plan laid down by him. 
Daniel Charles de Trudaine had addressed himself, not to cultivators of land, 
whom narrow views and prejudices are too apt to deter from adopting what¬ 
ever they have not seen practised by their forefathers, but to Duubenton, an 
able naturalist, w ho instantly perceived the possibility of what was propos¬ 
ed, and proved it by satisfactory experiments.” 
“It having been ascertained by a variety of experimenls patronized by the 
administration, and conducted by enlightened agrb-ulturisls, that the merino 
sheep might be acclimated in France without any change in their wool; ap¬ 
plication was made by Lewis sixteenth to the king of Spain for permission to 
export from thence a number of merinos. This was not only granted, but or¬ 
ders were given by the Spanish monarch that they should be selected from 
the finest flocks in Spain. In the year 1786 four hundred rams and ewes ar¬ 
rived in France under the care of Spanish shepherds. Fortunately lor France, 
the improvement in sheep, begun under Lewis the sixteenth, was continued 
through the revolution, in which almost every other useful institution was in¬ 
volved in ruin. A committee of agriculture was formed in the convention, 
and under their protection the amelioration of the merino flocks happily pro¬ 
gressed.” From this originated the celebrated Rambouilet flock. From this, 
the writer says a number of rams and ewes are annually sold, after the finest 
are picked out to keep up the original stock. And notwithstanding the an¬ 
nual sales from the national flocks, the price of rams is daily increasing.” 
So particular have the governments of Saxony and France been, to 
preserve these flocks from degenerating, and to effect every possible 
improvement, that they have at different times sent experienced shep¬ 
herds into Spain, to select from their choice flocks superior individual 
rams, for which, in some instances, they have paid enormous prices, 
to preserve the necessary change without breeding in and in. 
In such high consideration was this subject held by the successive 
administrations of the French government, that a commission was is¬ 
sued to the institute, to appoint a committee to prepare a treatise on 
sheep; which was executed, and distributed giatuitously, with that 
characteristic liberality of the great nation, which has done so much in 
science, and in arousing the dormant energies of the human mind, to a 
positive exaltation of character. 
Mr. Gilbert, a member of the French nat onal institute, in describing 
the Rambouilet flock, says, “ but which certainly does not yield in any 
circumstance to the most beautiful, in point of size, form and strength; 
or in fineness, length, softness, strength, and abundance of fleece. The 
manufacturers and dealers in wool, who came in numbers, to Rambou¬ 
ilet this year (1796) to purchase, unanimously agreed to this fact, at 
Vol. II. 20 
the very time that they were combining to keep down the price.” He 
further states, that the average weight of the fleeces of the bucks, when 
washed and scoured, exclusive of tags and belly wool, was six pounds. 
In this country, for the market, we do not scour; only wash, and roll 
up the whole fleece. The amount of fleece is very much dependent on 
feed. He says, “ the comparison I have made with the most scrupu¬ 
lous attenteon between this wool, and the highest priced, of that drawn 
from Spain, authorizes me to declare that of Rambouilet superior.” 
The Electoral flock of Saxony, and the Rambouilet flock of France, 
are of the same rank and degree—selected improved merino. Hew is 
it then, when Saxony wool takes the precedence of Spanish wool in the 
market, that Rambouilet does not come in competition with Saxony ? 
Spain and Saxony are pre-eminently fine wool growing regions; but 
neither of them extensively manufacturing; they grow for exportation. 
France, on the other hand, grows prime wool, which is consumed by 
her own unrivalled machinery. 
In the third instance, he crossed the Atlantic for the new world, and 
landed on our shore. Here he was greeted with an enthusiasm border¬ 
ing on distraction, and which can now hardly be realized. In the year 
1802, the Hon. Robert R. Livingston of this state, with a discriminat¬ 
ing patriotism meriting national reminiscence and gratitude, sent from 
Spain two couple of select Spanish merino sheep, the first ever brought 
to this country.* Subsequently by himself, Col. Humphrey, General 
Derby, Consul Jarvis and others, the country was supplied with me¬ 
rino sheep. 
Manufactories were now established, and the production of fine wool 
promised to be a lucrative business. But these prospects were soon 
dissipated, and upset, by the versatility of our own government. And 
the choice merino buck fell from the exalted sale of $1,400, to the de¬ 
graded estimate of 2 or 3 dollars. In the year 1813, I paid $150 for a 
Paulaur buck, and $100 each, for six ewes. In the year 1827, I bought 
the remnants of some choice Escurial flocks, which had formerly been 
purchased at $200 each, for $2.50 each. And such was the depressed 
price of wool, that I purchased in the year 1826, cash payment at auc¬ 
tion, a package of full blood merino wool, at 25 cts. per lb. and after 
keeping it two months, I sold it on a credit of 90 days, for 24 cts. per 
pound. 
This extreme vascillation of public sentiment, prostrated the whole 
interest. Many individuals were involved in total ruin ; and small pro¬ 
prietors abandoned the concern. A few, relying on the sufficiency of 
their own pecuniary resources, on the intrinsic worth of the animal, 
the estimate of the whole civilized world, for centuries, of its value, 
only awaited a more protracted exit. From all this, it is plain that 
there was almost an entire abandonment of the merino in this country. 
The result o.' scientific investigation is, that a conclusion cannot be 
come at without the whole sheet of facts, embracing the subject in all 
its connexions. 
The establi-hment of facts by experiments involves almost infinite 
nicety; requiring the whole amount of human discrimination—unsha- 
kled by subsisting theories, preconceived notions, and pride of popula¬ 
rity. An opinion is a mere nullity, separated from the considerations 
necessary for its formation. And the experience of every day exhibits 
the imperfection and fallacy of experiments and opinions. Not only 
the preceding narrative, but the most scrupulous investigation, will 
concur in the establishment of the subsequent statement. 
The Spanish merino has hitherto furnished the best material for the 
fabrication of fine woollen clothing; and as a natural consequence and 
matter of fact, has rendered all Europe tributary to her production. 
This sheep being transported to Saxony and France, and there re¬ 
ceived as an acquisition, its peculiar character duly appreciated, nursed 
with care, preserved in its purity, proved in its excellence—must stand 
pre-eminent. 
Sheep are a defenceless and delicate animal, the prey of wolves and 
dogs, and subjects of disease; therefore in a domesticated state, requir¬ 
ing the protecting and fostering care of man. And in following the 
destinies of their itinerant master, are necessarily subjects of acclima¬ 
tion. 
The Spanish merinos, with their gradations, have passed this ordeal 
in our country. The Saxony merino have not in point of time been al¬ 
lowed the same courtesy and indulgence. 
Who then, permit me to ask, who, in defiance of the light of science, 
and the experience of the world for a century, will be disposed to re¬ 
trograde? Now what shall we do with this chimney corner and barn 
yard phrase, “ old fashioned merino I am as fond of antiquity as 
any one else, but I am unwilling to indulge this taste, at the sacrifice of 
a distinctive perception of things. F. 
Wool, the coat of the sheep, vs ill be the subject of the next No. 
* VVe bee leave here to state, that the first Spanish sheep were sent to this 
country in1801, by M. Delessert, of Paris, one only of which, Don Pedro, 
figured in the first volume of the Cultivator, page 183, lived to reach land. 
Don Pedro was kept some lime in Ulster county, and afterwards by Mr. Du- 
' pont, in the state of Delaware. 
