The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-11
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was work Of great labor. 1t was frequent
ly uncovered, not only to ascertain its con
dition but for the retrcshment of the ami
nal it was drawn out and parted and
combed ifitiwas beginning TO mat; it was
frequently mostened with the finest oil
and even wnc it was well washed three or
four times in n year; the sheep houses were
Gaily, and almost hourly washed and cleaned
and fumigated."
The introduction of silk and cotton fabrics
from the East, better adapted to the climate
of Italy, caused the celebrated focks OF
Apula and Tarentum to disappear, to be-
succeeded by a larger, coarser. but more
profitable race. better suited to the time
In ca ID AZ Columella Il distinguished az
riculturist introduced many ofthe Tarentinc
breed into Spain. They had gradually
spread from Syria and the Black Sea into
Italy. and arrived at emincnce. They bore
red fleece, and were superior to all others
in fineness. They are considered to be the
foundation of the mcrinO race, and the oc-
casional occurrence Of a red ear. or red
spots, or red legs. in the best of our nocks
at the present day, would be in measure
corroboratve.
In the eighth century the Moors conquered
Il portion of Spain and found it fruitful in
corn and pleasant fruit and gluttcd with
sheep This whrlike and enterprising
race were distinguished for their luxurious
customs, and fine and expensive ward
robe In the thirteenth century Spain be-
came renowned for her wooden manulac-
turers, Seville alone containing no less
than 10000 looms, Wooden manufacture
| became a source of Great wealth, and sheep
culture was exalted to the highest position
of the land. The merinos of Spain were
of two classes. the Estates, or stationary
andtlie T3WanShU moAtes, or migratory. Thcsc
latter were superior, probably from the
wedding out process the Spanish shepherds
had adopted from the Romans. as they did
also their custom of keeping the sheep al
way in equitable climate, and of subject
ing them to Il sweating process before shear
ing to soften the crust formed on the end
of the wool, and to make the whole fleece
soft and pliabe.
The practice of killing all lambs not pos
se>,ing tie proper characteristics, the ratio
of which was probably not less than 80 per
cent, the remainder having the benefit of
two mothers, and the long journey OF 400
miles taken twice Il year, in the spring to
the pastures of Ccvcra, Navarro and the
Pyronnes. in the north, and in the autumn
of the confines of Estramadara, Audalusia
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 to this treatment. SO highly were
sheep esteemed, and so powerful became
their owners, tiat they were enabled IL
force upon the people most oppressive
code, by tribunal called the Council of the
!. Royal Troop. 1t established right to
, gaze on all open and common land that lay
in the way; it claimed also Il path ninety
yards wide through all enclosures and cul-
tivatcd country; and il prohibited all per
sons, even foot passengers from travelling
, on the roads while the sheep were in mo
ton. As the migrations were made Mt q
; season of the year when the crops were
most liable to injury, the damage must have
been inostimable, and the prestige of the
, nuOkmastor unlimited.
In 1916 there were annually eNporte,
from SpNi" ia Eran"e. about 40, 90 sacks %
, wool. at $40 per sack. and to Italy finer
sort at SIl2.j0 pers ack. But the Spaniard
in their bigotry expelled many Thousands
/ of the Moors, industrious people. artisans
, indeed GOO COZ in three years ard Seville
! 10000 looms dwindcd down to GO. The
/, glory of the Sarocen had departed an,
y with it the wooden industry of Spain, an,
, her sheep soon followed. Spain saw to,
late its fatal error, and France. German,
=, advantage of il, although in various degrees
:, Naturally. it would be supposed that France
, from her proximity to Span, would lie til,
=, first to avail herself of the superiority o
:, the merino and early been second to nom
a for the beauty and value of her sheep an
: wool. Indeed, measures we're in progres
- At the opening OF her sanguinary and sweep
=, ing revolution, to secure the prize; but tia
" so far diverted the attention of the govern
mcnt and people that the only successful
!. effort of national Importance was the foe
:, known as the Rambouilet. This Hoe
= gradually increased in numbers and quality
: fostered by The government and that fin
~ care which has made the French system :
~ renowned. The average weight of fleece
- were raised from Glbs. W. in 1871 to
ii lbs in 1901, a period of ten years, and t
: II lbs for rams and 10 lbs. for ewes in tn
i, next twenty, and in soitness, fnenes
= length and streng h of fibre. it was sceon
to none.
!. From that time to the present the strid,
4, of sheep, wool and woolens of France. fo
I, tered by a discriminating and enlightenc
-, policy of the government and people, hal
10 placed her high in the scale of cXcelcnt
\ among the wool nations of the earth.