The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-05-12
AGRICULTURAL.
RAMBOUILLEr MERINo SHEEP

RAMBOUILLET MERINo SHEEP.
MEssRs. EDITOR In your last number
of the Family Visitor you were pleased TO
notice my flock of Rambouillet Merinos CO m
monty called my imported flock, 10 distinguish
them from my other American Merinos. As
the public have a deep interest in this flock,
especially the wool growing public OF Yer
mont, perhaps some account of the history OF
this race of sheep may not be unacceptable
20 your readers. l have no desire 20 oc-
eupy your columns with the view OF
drawing attention TO my sheep, for
may as well remark here perhaps as any
where, that am not at all dependant on Yer
mont for the sales that am able TO make. or
shall be, for some years 10 come. inasr,uch
as application is made for them as fast as they
can be reared from different and distant parts
Of the country.
In 17S5, Louis XVI, King of France, ap.
piled 10 the King OF Spain for leave 10 pur-
chase flock Of sheep from the best focks of
or cavanas SfthG kingdom, which was grated.
and inl7S6, jusi60years ago.a special Commits
sion from the French King went into Spain
and carefully examining their focks in the
kingdom, made their selection from seven
different cavanas, viz: the Paular, Nigretti
Escurial cavanas, also those OF the Marquis
de Irunda, the Marquis de Paruces, Manuel
de Balburna, and The Court de San Rafael
The flock thus selected was driven into
France and placed upon the royal estate, at
Ramboullet, where they ever Eince have
been. Hence their present name. After
the return Of the Commission they published
their proceedings, and gave an account of
the principal cavanas, of Spain, and their To-
callies.
These sheep are undoubtedly well chosen.
For il was the pride and boast of the Span
ism shepherds that no such flock have ever
been driven out OF Spain and no other coun-
try in the world could produce them.
In the terrible revolution which followed,
these sheep were taken under the patronage
Of the convention and the successive govern
mentsa and so they have remained 10 the pres
ent day. In each and every year govern
ment Commission examines this flock, and
reports upon its condition, and makes sug-
gestions in regard to IFS future improvement.
For the benefit Of France, public sale takes
place every May, so that private individuals
may embark in the business of establishing
flocks. These sales are mostly made 10
Frenchmen, with view 10 national wealth.
In 1910. d. G. Collins, Esq, of Hartford
CT, purchased cut of the royal flock at Ram
bOuillet, % ewes and 2 bucks, and shipped
them 10 this country. He has always
held them in his own possession until last fall
having sold several bucks, but never a eve
until he sold The native flock TO me. Mr.. C.
had been very unfortunate in losses of his
sheep, several was killed, as | have under
stood by dogs. The flock have been bred
pure since lis arrival in this country. Some
of The imported ewes are dead, and some are
still living. Old Grandee, one of the bucks
imported, has been said, by all who have
ever seen him, TO be probably the best buck
ever boughtin this country. My stock buck
Grandee, from him, by an old imported eve
that died at its weaving, is now probably not
surpassed, if equalled, by any buck in the
United States. have had large offers made
Gpr him. out would no. part with him on any
consideration. The ewes are generally fourth
or fifth larger than the full blooded American
Merinos, strong and well made and il is ludg-
ed thar the flock will shear over five pounds
ofclean, well washed wool per head, of one
years growth. AS 10 quality it is nearly
as fine as the finest Saxon. Indeed | have
some ewes that will produce finer staple be-
lieve, than any Saxon eve in the State.
have 20Electoral Saxon ewes from the Grove
flock, and not one of them produces wool as
fine as some individuals in the RambouilIei
flock. They are also remarkably free from
gum, and their product is wool. II is for rea-
sons like these, that the Editor of The 'Ag1i-
cuitHist' says they must make a good cross
upon the Merino flocks of Vermont; and lie,
me add they must be n remarkable good
cross upon any flock, Merino, Saxon or grade,
any where in Vermont or out oft. have
but three lamb bucks now that can be sold
shall have large lot of Lambs from full
blood American merinos, by Grandee but
gentleman in Va. is now negotiating Cor the
the entire lot. The full blood bucks (Ram-
bouilleO sell readily from $50 to 500 each,
half bloods by full blood American ewes al
$50 10 $50. All who examine these sheep
agree in saying that they have never seen
their like before. Manufacturers have Civ
en- it as their opinion that they will cleanse
a quarter more wool, and that the wool will
sell quar- er hig her than the wool from any
Merino flock that they know of in the land.
We shall see.-Termo1tt Wdtctnldn g. Jour
nal.
l.. G. BINGHAM.