Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-11-27


enteen hundred Of the Aigueitras flock Of th
Junta and the remainder was sold aud sent
England. The Montarco flock was buugh
by Spauiard and Portuguese and abou
two thousand seven hundred we're shipped {
tins country. | shipped to the United State
the fourteen hundred Paulars, one thousan
seven hundred Aguiorras two hundred Escu
rial, one hundred Ncgrctts and about tw
hundred Montarcos. OF this number abou
one hundred were sent 10 Wisoassen aud Port
land, one thousand one hundred TO Bostot
and Newburyport, one thousand five huudrc,
to New York, three hundred aud Gfy to Phi
ladelpha two hundred and fifty to Baltimore
one hundred to Alexandra, and two hundre,
to Norfolk and Richmond. Besides thos,
which | shipped to the United States on N,
own account. there we're about three hundt,
| Gaudaloupe- pitcaased BY others, and from
/ two hundred to three hundred Of the Paula
/ flock sold by Gen Dasypi.y shipped to 30
ton and OF the Montatco flock, shipped b,
others. about two thousand five hundred weit
sent TO Boston, Providence, New York, Poi
adephia, Baltimore, and Savannah. The
Guadalopes. Paulars aud MontarcOs, which
were shipped to Boston by others, were for
the account of Gorham Parsons. Esq Gen
sumner, Dea. Ichonor, and +. II. Derby,
Esq. Al these sheep were shipped in the
latter part Of 1909, during 1910, and the
early part Of 81 L, and we're the only Leone,a
ttashumantes, II we include Gen. Humphrey 4,
and Chancellor Livingston's (Which have no
doubt Were OF the same stock. > that we're e,-
er shipped 10 the United States. Badajos i,
but little over one hundred miles from Lie
ft.ttt .iI 81. 81
IN that vicinity, were shipped from Lisbon !
was then Consul there. and from my office
was ac utately acquainted with all the ship.
ments, as certificates Of property IRON me al
ways sceomp MED them. | have been thus
minute because writer, without siguature.i in
the Albany agricultural paper. within two or
three mouths has pretended with much -four
ish, to give history of the importation OF
merinos into this country, for tho benefit Of
posterity. Two qualifications are essential
for an historical writer. The first is thor
ough knowledge Of his subject, the second
great imrartiaIity. But so far from cottectl,
informing posterity, this writer has himself
displayed great ignorance, OF gross want OF
impartislity, as the above facts, mostly taken
FROM papers In my possession, when compared
with hi. statements will clearly show.
shall now, IN compliance with your wish
es. give you a description Of the sheep of the
different Aocks sent to this country The
Paulars were undoubtedly one Of the band
some focks in Spain. They were Of midding
height, round bodied, well spread. straisb,
on the back the neck Of the bucks rising in
a moderate cur from the withers to the set
thug on Of the head, their head handsome
with aQuline curve ui the nose. with short
fine glossy hair on the face, aud generally
ban; on the legs, the kin pretty smooth, thar
ir. not rolling up or doAbling about the neck
and body, as in some offer tiOcks, the crimp
in the wool Was not so short as in many other
hucks the wool was somewhat longer but IT,
was close and compact, and was soft and silky
to the touch aud the surface was not 80 much
covered with gum. This flock was originally
owned by the Carthusian Frars, of paular,
who were the best agtIculiursts in Spain and
was sold by that order TO the Prince of Peace
when he came into power. The Negreii
flock were the tallest merinos in Spain, but
were not handsomely formed, being rather
fiat sided, roach backed and the neck inclined
To sink down from the withers. the wool was
somewhat shorter than the Paular aud more
loose, and inclined to double, and many Of
them were wuol,d ON Il G face and legs down
to their hoots, all the loo,o skinned sheep had
large dewlaps The Agueirras were short
legged, round. broad bodied, with loose skin,
and were more wooled about their faces and
legs than any other flock | ever saw, the wool
was more crmped than the Paulars and less
than the Negre.ti, but was thick and suit
This flock formerly belonged to the Moors OF
Spain and at their expulsion was bought by
the family Of Aguerras. The wool in Eng
land wac known as the Muros flock and was
highly esteemed, all the bucks of these three
fOcks had large horns. The Escuriul were
about as tall as the Paulars, but not quite 30
round and broad, being ia general rather more
slight in their make, their wool was crimped,
but not quite su thick the Paular or Ne
grett nor were their skins so loose as The
Negretti and Agueiuas nor had they so much
wool on the face and legs. The MoAtaocu
bore a considerable resemblance to the Escu-
TiAls. The Escurial flock had formerly be-
longed TO the crown, but when Philip the 2nd
built the EscuriaI Palace, he gave them to the
Fuars, whom he placed in convent that was
attached To the palace, as a source Of revenue.
These four fooks were moderately gummed
The Gu ,daloupe flock was rather larger 10
the bone than the two preceding. about tLe
same height. but not quite so Handsomely
formed, their wool was thick and crimped,
their skins loose and dT5stling, the facus
and legs not materially different from the two
latter hocks, but in general hey were more
gummed than either Of the other hocks. In
point OF fneness there was very little differ
euce between these six Aoeks, and, as have
been told, By well Informed persons, there is +
very little difference in this respect among the
Leonesa tragamantos in general, The kscu-
rial, the Mantarcos, and the Guadaloupes,
were not in general so heavy horned as the
other three hocks, and about one in six Of the
bucks were without horns, or what is com
monty called polled buck. | ha1 Sc eoted
by the Pauar shepherds, who came with that
flock, three hundred sheep which | shipped .
to New6uyport. The half Of these were
PaulaTs, fourth Aguierrss, an eighth Escu- /
rials, and the other eighth Montarcos and Ne 7
grettis. These | put on the farm in Wealth I
ersfeld, VI, that ! bought after my return to
The United States, and also drove up a hun
ired, the remainder OF those had shipped
10 Boston. ln compliance with the invaria.
bic practice in Spain, | bred the respective
locks separately, or wha, in farmers language
$ called in and in the custom in Spain hay-
ng existed from time immemOTibl OF breed
ng the bucks and ewes Of the same cabanha
"A i. 4