Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-08-26
9grtcuItural.
From the Prairie Farmer
History and characteristics OF the Sew
erai Breeds of Sheep.
BY HENRY S. RANDALL>


been so often brought before the public, that
it is deemed unnecessary here to recapitulaie
lit. The first importation Of Them into The
United States, took place in 1901. Four
rams were shipped by Mr.. Delessert, a banker
of Paris, three, of which persisted on the pas
sage.* The fourth arrived in safety at Rosen-
dale, farm owned by that gentleman near
Kingston in this State In 1902, Two pairs
Were sen, from France by Mr.. Livingston, the
American minister, TO his estate on the Hud.
son; and later the same year, MIR. Humphreys,
our Spanish minister, shipped one hundred, on
/ his departure from that country, for the United
State. But they attracted little notice ill
our difficulties with England led 10 cessa.
ton Of commercial intercourse with that power,
try being now directed towards manufacturing
and wool-growing, the Merinos rose into i'm
poriance. So great indeed was the interest
excited. that from thousand 10 fourteen hun
bred dollars head was paid for them. Other
and numerous imporations soon followed, and
unfortunately some of the cargoes arrived in
The worst condition, bringing with them those
scourges Of the ovine race, the serab aud foot,
rot. These evils and the increased supply
soon brought them down TO less than a twen-
tieth part of their former price; they could now
be bought for twenty dollars a head. When,
however il was established by actual expert
ment that their wool did not deteriorate as had
been feared by many in this country, and that
they became readily acclimated, they again.
rose into favor. But the prosiration of our
manufactures, which soon after ensued, rem.
dered the Merino OF comparatively little value,
and brought ruin to numbers who had purcha-
sed them at their previous high prices. The
rise which had since taken place in the
value of fine wool, as well as the causes which
led 10 it, are 100 recent and well understood
to require particular notice. With the rise
of wool. the valuation of the sheep which bear
it has of course KEEP, pace.
The Merino has been various.y described.
This arises from the fact that il is but the gen.
eral appellaton of a species, comprising sever
al varieties, presenting essential points Of diff
ference in size, form, quality and quantity Of
wool. The Escuriai locks stand first in point
OF fneness. Attached 10 the convent III Esco.
| rial, within short distance Of the capital, and
being the private property ofthe kings Of Spain,
no pains or care have been spared upon these
beautiful focks. They are Of good size and
| fine form, "combining excellence" as is re-
marked by an intelligent wrter,t scarcely
admitting of improvement" 1t is supposed
that most of the Escuria sheep which found
their way into this country are but Indifferent
specimens Of this celebrated varily of the Me-
rino. Their neeces are somewhat lighter than
those OF the paulars, Negretts, &c. and alto
geiher they bear close resemblance 10 the
genuine Saxons, Of which they are the parent
stock.
According TO Mr.. Lesteyrie,t tho Negreli
"are the largest and strongest Of all the Span
ish travelling sheep" The Gaudeoupe "have
the mos, perfect form, and are likewise eele.
brated for the quantity and quality Of their
WOOL" The Paulars ''bear much wool OF a
fine quality; but they have more evident en-.
largement behind the ears. and greater de-
1 gree of throainess.
| AS the last named was one Of the principal
varieties introduced into the United States, a
more particular description may not be unac-
ceptabe. The sheep Of the Paular Convent
are large, with heavy, bot Compared with the
Escurial or Saxon coarse ileeces. The wool
of the pure bloods contains a considerable
quantity Of jarr or hair, and II abounds in yolk
TO degree, HAT il catches and retains at its
extremiIies much floating dust, the pollen Of
hay, &c. This gives il peculiarly stiff and
hard feeling externally. II however forms an
excellent protection against storms and cold.
The form of the Paulsr is generally good, but
an unusually large dewlap; so plated end
doubled as 10 90 by the popular appellaion Of
"the rufle." extends from the lower jaw 10 The
brisket, presenting great obstacle to the
shearer, and an nnseemly and ungraceful ap-
pendage in the eye Of the refined breeder. On
the sides Of the neck and not unfrequenty on
the face, the skin also lies in loose wrinkles.
The head is coarse, and in the male usually
surmounted by large horns. The skill Of the
American breeder has ohvisted some Of those
defects, and there are some few livery few
focks claiming purity Of blood, which have
little or no iarr, and an almost entire absence
Of that throatness. peculiar to this variety. II
is to be apprehended, however, that 10 most
such instances, they owe II 10 cross with the
Saxons.
There are some other varieties If the MerlDo
which we shall not pause TO describe. Taken
collectively, the Spanish rams, according 10
Chancellor Livingston, YIELD almost eight and
half pounds Of wool, and he ewes five, which
loses half in wsshlpg-making foDr pounds
and quarter the average weight Of fleece Of
the rams and two and half Of the ewesl
Some varieties considerably exceed this esii-
mate. and probably it would not fall short If
applied TO The prime sheep Of any variety. 10
the celebrated flock Of French Merinos at
Ramh,uillei, the average weight, exclusive Of
tag and belly wool, is six pounds 10 the fleece.
1t must be confessed, however, that both Mr..
Livingston and Mr.. Humphreys assert, tina!
the Rambuilet sheep carry more wool than
any the Spanish hOeks.S Col Humphreys,
in letter to the Agricultural Society Of Mae
saehuseits. even goes so iar as 10 state that
"ihe improved stock Of France yield twice as
much wool as those of Spain" Some care