1851. 
THE CULTIVATOR, 
311 
any that had ever before been brought from Spain: but 
having been chosen from a great number of flocks, in 
different parts of the kingdom, they were distinguished 
by very striking local differences, which formed a med¬ 
ley disagreeable to the eye, but immaterial as it affected 
their quality; these characteristic differences have been 
melted into each other, by their successive alliances, and 
from them have resulted a race which perhaps resemble 
none of those which compose the primitive stock, but 
which certainly does not yield in any circumstances to 
the most beautiful in point of size, form, and strength; 
or in the fineness, length, softness, strength, and abund¬ 
ance of the fleece.” 
Again in the same work, I find it stated of the flock 
that, 
“ The fibre of the wool is very fine, quite equal to the 
best Merino in Spain, and is the very antipodes of that 
of which so much complaint is made by the manufactur¬ 
er, of being harsh, dry, crispy, and wiry. The fleece 
opens of a brilliant creamy color within, on a skin of 
rich pink, and is soft, glossy, wavy and very even over 
the whole body ; is exceedingly close and compact,and has 
a yolk free from gum, and easily liberated when it comes 
to be washed, but which protects the wool from the 
weather, and keeps it free from the dead ends that are 
so objectionable. It becomes of the purest white when 
scoured by the manufacturer, and still retains its mel¬ 
low. oily touch, so grateful to the handling of good 
judges. Its felting properties are beyond dispute, making 
it a choice material for the manufacture of fine cloths.” 
After a close inspection of Mr. Campbell’s importa¬ 
tion, I am led to think that all I have ever read respect¬ 
ing the French Merinos, is very just. They appear to 
be possessed of constitutions as hardy and vigorous as 
those of our best native or coarse wool sheep; they are 
very square, finely shaped sheep, and by far the largest 
pure merino’s I have ever seen,—indeed I have rarely 
seen larger sheep of any kind. Generally, they have 
heavy dewlaps, and large folds of skin on the neck, 
reaching back on the shoulders, and often nearly over 
the body, the wool growing thickly over them, and co¬ 
vering the head, and the legs clear down to the hoofs, 
so that the fleece, when shorn, spreads out into dimen¬ 
sions equal to a covering for two such carcases. The 
fleece is very thick and heavy, and fine enough for any 
body. I cannot but regard these sheep as a most valua¬ 
ble acquisition to our state, and am induced to believe 
them very valuable, among other things, for crossing 
with our best mutton sheep, thus refining the fleece of 
the latter, without deteriorating the carcase. 
I will cite a few examples from minutes taken at the 
shearing, which are a fair average of the entire impor¬ 
tation: 
Live weight. Weight of fleece. 
No. 2,. 
5. 
10 ,.... 120 .. 12 
17,.105 . 14 12 
20.. 
. 106 . 
. 15 
26,. 
. 122 . 
24,. 
. 103 . 
. 15 
39,. 
.. 107 ...... 
48. 
. 97 . 
50, . 
. 92 . 
. 15 
56,. 
. 74 . 
.. 16 
61,..... 
. 109 . 
. 14 
A buck 2| years old, whose live weight was 224 lbs., 
sheared 21 £ lbs. It is proper to say that the wool was 
unwashed, and as clean unwashed wool as is ever seen; 
that the sheep are mostly yearlings, with one year’s 
growth of wool; and that the fleeces had all sustained 
quite a loss on shipboard, from the wool being rubbed 
off and picked out, and eaten by the sheep,—a habit 
which I am told they are apt to acquire, when confined 
long at sea. 
Mr. Campbell inspected several flocks of fine wool 
sheep while in Germany, but found them to be mostly 
Saxony, with very small carcases, and very short light 
fleeces. In Silesia, however, he found a flock descended 
from an importation of Spanish Merinos made in 1811, 
which have been bred with great care and purity. In 
size they compare well with the best Paular Merino’s in 
the state of Vermont, but have a thicker, heavier, and 
finer fleece than our best sheep. For fineness, their 
wool will compare well with the finest Saxon. They 
have square, finely shaped bodies, and appear to possess 
hardiness and vigor of constitution. I again select from 
my minutes several samples, which will give a fair ave¬ 
rage of the shearing of the whole. 
GERMAN MERINO BUCKS. 
Live weight. 
Weight of fleece 
No. 18,. 
76,. 
. 83 lbs., . 
. 86 . 
7 5 
80,. 
. 99 . 
8 8 
13,. 
No. 4,. 
.. 91 . 
GERMAN MERINO EWES. 
. 61 .. . 
....10 8 
7 14 
10,. 
. 71 . 
9 13 
15,. 
. SO . 
9 0 
17,. 
. 75 . 
9 8 
19,. 
. 69 . 
Both bucks and ewes of this stock are yearlings, with 
fleeces of 10 months growth, unwashed. 
Mr. Campbell intends to exhibit several of his impor¬ 
ted sheep, of both breeds, at our State Fair, the 9th 
and 10th of September next. Any information in regard 
to these two importations which may be desired, may be 
obtained by addressing Mr. Campbell, or Chamberlain 
and Phelps, 103 Front street, New-York city, or Wil¬ 
liam Chamberlain, Esq., Red Hook, Dutchess Co., N 
Y. F. Holbrook. BrattleboroJ Vt ., Aug. 1, 1851. 
Cultivation of Cranberries. 
Eds. Cultivator —Please accept a vase of Cranber¬ 
ry plants, of the variety known as the “ Upland Bell 
Cranberry.” Wishing to test the plants thoroughly, on 
the 1st day of June 1851, I removed a bed of these 
plants from rich upland soil into the poorest kind of loam 
—both soils being near Lansingburgh, and 100 feet above 
the Hudson—no swamp, muck, or brook in the vicinity. 
They were watered but once, which was at the time of 
setting. The plants were just budding at the time. 
Wishing to send you a specimen, I have taken them up 
while in bloom, and I think with but little care they will 
do well. It would be advisable to water them occa¬ 
sionally, the same as other plants. The new shoots of 
each year furnish the fruit which are of extra size and 
flavor. The plants the first year, yield but half the 
usual crop, after transplanting. I shall be able to send 
you this fall a vase of the plants in full growth and cul¬ 
tivation, with the fruit attached. Plants can be furnished 
in the fall, growing in pots with the fruit upon them, and 
fruit when protected from frost, will remain fresh upon 
the vines until they again blossom, thus forming a beau¬ 
tiful ornament for the window, garden or greenhouse. 
