Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-11-27
From the Mddlebury Northern Galax1, Of March 1874
IMPORTATION OF MERlNO SHEEP

HNet hh Ah fNHil W lNhA ANhfti VI WI
18th inst, requesting me to give you an &C
count OF the Merino sheep Of Spain and thei
Introduction into this country, NC. &c ,
shall with pleasure do it 90 far as my memor,
serves me, and | believe that will be founC
TO be tolerably correct, as long since CAV,
much attention TO the subject, from convic
iion that the wool-growing business in th,
United States would prove a source of ma
tional prosperity In Spain the fine wuolct
sheep are divided into two classes the trash.
umantes or travelling sheep, and the estante,
or stationary sheep. The wool of the trash.
uman,es is very much superior to that OF the
estantos, owing, undoubtedly, to the superior
care and attention which is given to them
The trashumantes are owned in flocks from
5000 to 10000 the larger a cks are placed
under the supe erinteudence of a mayora. who
has the whole control over the flock. aud an
nuaily accounts with the owner for tho retl
income. Tso shepherds. four dogs, and a
pack horse or mule are employed for every
thousand sheep. The travelling sheep are
divided into three classes. which take their
names from the provinces where they are
principally kept, viz; the Leonesa, which are
by far the most numerous aud are universally
esteemed the finest sheep in Spain the So
goviaa, which are considered next best. and
the Sorian, which are deemed little inferior
to the latter. never s. W any Of the sepo-
Wan or Sorian sheep. and therefore speak Of
them from their general character derived
nom Spaniards the best informed on the sub.
jcct. The Ieonesa are pastured in the SUM
mer On the mountains and hiily country of
Leon and the two Castiles. and in the fall are
driven into the plains of SoanisA Estratn adm.
"a to be pastured through the winter.
Many of their Aacks are driven two hun
dred miles from ,he summer to the winter
pasture, and Uice U.rsn Some exclamation
will be necessary for the better understand
ing Of the cause Of this management. lhe
plains Of Spanish Estramadura are subjected
To IN almost invariable dtougbt from the LAT.
ter part of April To the autumnal eouirox bnt
the rains commence about the 2lst Of Septem.
Der and continue TO fall every two or t,roe
dav. m ,ery be.yy shnvr,s uu th. l.,t,r
mart Of Mach when the, g,sdpau, G,lI og
i'm the end of Ap,il I, s,x N, seven ue.Ls
frorn the frat ,a,r fr,m o, s,,.-or,l, ariI
v..ta tb,se pl.,p. ,,. c..yo,ed ,yi,h b,o,,,
nl c.at of verdpr. and so conti,pa I'm All
a. tho tbe,,,ometar ,,,ely t,lt, hl,, an
Of Fahrenheit a. s,nri.e Whnst tho ,l,;rs
are thus n,fched mn in summer bv d,hn,,bt
in The mountain. and MN, regior. ,bev a.
occasionally refreshing rains which ,bero
keen their pasture, good thropgbout the
summer. Their flock. are nsnally started in
the month of Anil fom the rl,;ns ~ Es.
To tbei, sun,ue, nos,rres and ~
Oct.ber hack ay,dn Tbey are ss,e,sny
.bcsted in the latter mart of Nav and tho
wool is sent to s.. Ard,fo and BJboa the
two nearest sen.poits to thei, -.mme, ns.
ture.. for sale. The nronrietor. ~ tho aocks
al,ssv, avn lands IN tba mounisi,s ana in
plains sufficient for both their summer and
winter pastures. From the Circumstance Of
their sheen being fed the wear round uoon
sreen fodder il w. tho ,cncrsl oninion IN
S pain, that the Merino would not socceed in
nny other cpnntrv Rut the evne,i,,,rt.
made in Saxony, ia l765. by the introduction
in that year OF the spanisb Merino. il has
been proved beyond all question that. with
proper care and infringement, wool may be
grown quite a, fine a, the spanish, when fed
on dry fodder four or oix months in the wear.
In fact. they have succeeded in all countries
whc.e they have been tried, except in Eng
land, and there deterioration there must. un-
Ioubledl,, be- owing To the extreme humidity
uf that climate.
The origin of the fine wooled sheen Of
Spain appears to be cues tion of much doubt.
II i. certain that ColumelIa. Spanish writer
On agriculture. in the days of Aupustus Cse.
var. speaks of fine wooded or covered sheen.
Ii is probable tley we're carried into that
country by the Carthsgunians or Romans. as
.he name marenn. imties in Spani,h. from or
beyond sea Butiti, Of little cops,o otencs