The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-03-17

Noiy shoit st"Pie, anu Vhpcciaiiy III re
quest for cloaks Ind mantles " This
induced the extreme assiduity in perfect.
ipg the material for its manufacture,
says Youatt. "Altbough the old Tsrentine
sheep produced wool unequaled in early
times, they were not without their de.
fects, and very serious ones, too. They
we're called by the agriculturists of those
days, pellib, from the skins and other
clothing with which they were covered
and also moller, not only from the soft.
ness of their fleeces, but from the delicacy
of their constitution apd the constant care
that was required 10 preserve them from
injurious vicissitudes OF heat and cold
The care bestowed upon the fleece was o
work OF great labor. 1t was frequently
uncovered, not only to ascertain its con.
dtion, but for the rclreshment of the ami
NAL it was drawn out. and parted and
combed if it was beginning TO mat
it was frequently moistened with the fin.
est oil, and even wine ; it was well washed
three or four times in year the sheep
houses were daily, and almost hourly
washed and cleaned and fumigated."
The introduction Of silk and cotton
fabrics from the East, better adapted tc
the climate of Italy caused the celebrated
focks Of Apulia and Tarentum to disap
pear, to be succeeded by larger, coarser
but more profitable race, better suited tt
the time. In "a. d. 4l) Columella
distinguished agriculturist introduced
many of the Tarentine breed into Spain
They had gradually spread from Syri,
and the Black Sea into Italy, and arrived
at eminence. They bore red fleece
aud were superior to all others in fine
ness. They are considered to be tn,
foundation Of the merino race, and tn,
occasional occurrence Of red ea-, Of
red spots, or red legs, in the best of ou
fiocks at the present day, would be in ,
measure corroborative.
In the eighth century the Moors con
quered a portion Of Spain and found i
fruitful in corn and pleasant fruit anc
glutted with sheep" This warlike anc
enterprising race were distinguished fol
their luxurious customs, and fine anf
expensive wardrobe. In the thirteenth
century Spain became renowned for hel
wooden manufactures, Seville alone cou
tanning no less than 10000 loans
Wooden manufacture became source o.
great wealth, and sheep culture was ex
allied to the highest position of the land
The merincs Of Spain we're of two classes
the ESTATES. or stationary, and the Troo
shm monies, or migratory. These latter
were superior. probably, from the weed
ing out process the Spanish shepherd.
had adopted from the Romans, as they
did also their custom of keepng the sheer
always in equitable climate, and Of sub
jecting them to sweating process before
shearing. to soften the crust formed or
the end Of the wool. and to make the
whole fleece soft and pliable.
The practice of killing all lambs no,
possessing the proper characteristics, the
ratio of which was probably not less thar
90 per cent, the remainder having the
benefit of two mothers. and the long
journey of 400 miles taken twice year
in the spring to the pastures of Cevcra
Navarro and the Pyrennes, in the north
and in the autumn to the confines of Is
tramadara, Andalusia and New CASTLE
in the south, also tended to select only
the strongest and best, and much of the
noted hardihood Of the Spanish merino
and its descendants, is no doubt owing tt
this treatment. So highly we're sheer
esteemed, and so powerful became theil
owners, that they wero enabled to force
upon the people most oppressive code
by tribunal called the Council of the
Royal Troop. 1t established right tc
Craze on all open and common land that
lay in the way it claimed also a path
ninety yards wide through all enclosures
and cultivated country and it prohibit.
ed all persons, even foot passengers
from travelling on the roads whio the
sheep were IN motion. AS the migrations
were made at season of the year when
the crops were most liable to injury, the
damage must have been inestimable. and
the prestige of the aockmaster unlimited
10 1916 there were annuity exported
from Spain to France, about 10000
sacks of wool, at $40 per sack, and to
Italy finer sort at Sll2.50 per sack.
But the Spaniards in their bigotry OK.
PEELED many thousands of the Moors, in.
dustrious people, withal artisans, indeed
OOUUOO In three years, and Sevile's 16 900
looms dwindled down to 60. The glory
OF the Lorraine had departed, and with
it the wooden industry of Spain. and her
sheep soon followed. Spain saw too late
its fatal error, and France, Germany and
the United States we're ready to take ad.
vantage of it, although in various de.
grees. Naturally. it would be supposed
that France, from her proximity to Spain,
would be the first 10 avail herself of the
superiority Of the merino. and early been
second to none for the beauty and value
OF her sheep and wool. Indeed, meas.
ures were in progress IT the opening of
her sanguinary and sv aeping revolution,
to secure the prize; at that so far di.
verted the attention OF the government
and people that the only successful effort
OF national importance was tho flock
known as the Rambouillct. This flock
gradually increased in numbers and DUAL.
lty, fostered by the government and that
line care which has made the French
system SO renowned. The average weight
of feeces we're raised from 6 lbs. 0 or.
in 1871 to 0 lbs. in 1901, period of
ten years, and to II lbs for rams and 10
lbs. for ewes in the next twenty, and in
softness, 6neness, length and strength of
fibre, it WAS second to none.
From that time to the present the
strides of sheep, wool und woolens of
France, fostered by q discriminating and
ightened policy of the government and
people, have placed her high in the scale
OF excellence among the wool nations OF
the earth