42 
THE SHEEP. 
THE MERINO BREED. 
health of the animals in a greater degree than the benefits they derive from a change of pasturage. A prodigious mortality 
accordingly takes place amongst these Sheep; and more than half the lambs are voluntarily killed, in order that the others 
may be brought to maturity. The sale of the lamb-skins, which form a subject of export to other countries, is indeed a 
source of profit, but nothing equal to what the rearing of the animals to their state of maturity would produce. That 
these extensive migrations are necessary to preserve the fineness of the wool, is conceived to be an error. Attention to breeding 
and rearing would more certainly produce this effect than a violent change of place. In Spain itself there are numerous 
flocks of stationary Merinos, whose wool is of all the fineness required; and in other countries of Europe where the Sheep 
are never moved off the farms that produce them, wool is produced superior to that of the migratory flocks of Spain. The 
system is of great antiquity, and is so riveted in the habits of this ignorant and intractable people, that it is likely to be one of 
the last of those ancient abuses which will yield to the desire of change which at this moment agitates the feelings of men in this 
distracted country. 
The Spaniards long preserved the monopoly of this race of Sheep with jealous care; but other countries at length were able 
to carry off the Golden Fleece of Spain, and the Merino race is now spread over a great part of Europe. It has been carried to 
North America, to the southern extremity of Africa, and* to the boundless regions of New Holland, in all of which places it has been 
found to retain, with wonderful constancy, the characters which had been imprinted on it in its native pastures, and in certain cases 
to surpass in useful properties the parent stock. The first country, it is believed, which acquired the pure Merinos, was Sweden. 
In 1723, M. Alstroemer, a spirited and patriotic individual, was enabled to import a small flock of pure Merinos. In 1739 the 
Swedish Government entered with zeal into the plan, established an agricultural school under the superintendence of M. Alstromer, 
and used every means to extend the breed. The measures adopted succeeded to the degree of diminishing the importation of short 
wool, and increasing the manufacture of the finer cloths; and, after the lapse of more than a century, the stranger race produces 
wool nearly as soft and fine as at its first importation. The Sheep are housed during the six months of winter, and generally 
during the nights in summer; and it is by means of this artificial treatment that the wool preserves its original properties. 
The ewes are between two and three years old before they are suffered to breed, and seven years old before they are fattened 
for the butcher. They are far inferior in hardiness to the native races; and, if due attention were paid to the cultivation of the 
native breeds, it may be questioned if they would not be of superior economical value to the breeders. It is supposed that there are 
about 100,000 of the pure and mixed Merinos in Sweden, reckoned to be about l-25th part of the Sheep of the country. 
France, although in contact with Spain on the Pyrenees, did not attempt to acquire the Merino race until some time 
before the middle of last century, when the illustrious Colbert, pursuing his numerous plans for extending the arts and commerce 
of France, brought several Merinos across the mountains for the purpose of improving the native Sheep. His plan, though well 
devised, was opposed by the prejudices of the people, and entirely failed. But in the year 1786, the French Government, adopting 
the same design, imported a considerable flock of pure Merinos, and established them at the royal farm of Rambouillet, near 
Paris, where their descendants yet remain. Every means were used to extend the breed amongst the agriculturists of Franee, but 
with little comparative success. In 1796 the Directory of the French Republic took yet more active means to multiply the breed. 
By a secret article in the treaty of Bale, they obtained power to import from Spain 100 rams and 1000 ewes annually for five 
years. The Spanish Government quickly repented of this forced concession, and political events prevented the completion of the 
scheme, so that of the stipulated number only 2000 rams and ewes reached their destination. Napoleon resumed the project, and 
during his reign many Merinos were brought across the frontiers. In this manner have been introduced a great number of Merinos 
into France, which have either remained pure, or been employed to cross the native races. But, upon the whole, France has not 
been very successful in this branch of husbandry. Although the climate and soil of Franee are eminently suited to the production 
of fine wool, the minute division of property in land, the small extent of sheep pastures, and the habits of the peasantry, have not 
been favourable to any general system of improvement applied to this race of Sheep. 
It is in the German States that the Merino race has been the most widely diffused, and the most successfully cultivated. 
The Elector of Saxony, on the close of the Seven Years’ War, in 1765 obtained from the King of Spain 100 Merino 
rams, and 200 ewes, taken from the best flocks of Spain.. He kept them partly pure on his own farms near Dresden, and 
he partly distributed them throughout the country, for the improvement of the native Saxon Sheep. It was soon found that the 
race preserved all its properties, and was capable, under skilful treatment, and by due selection of the breeding parents, of sur¬ 
passing, in the excellence of the fleece, the stock from which it had been derived. The most judicious means were employed to 
extend this branch of husbandry, by the establishment of schools for the instruction of shepherds, by the circulation of tracts, and 
otherwise, and very soon the wools of Saxony became the finest in Europe. The Saxon sheepmasters bestow a care in the selection 
of the Sheep producing the finest wool, which has no parallel in any other country. The best are reserved for propagating the 
