Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-04-06
From the American Agriculturist for April IL
American MerInO Sheep.

From the American Agriculturist for April IL
American Merln0 Sheep.
Sheen. raising has formed an import
ant part of the husbandry OF most ma
tons from the early historical umes
Each country has had It's pecunar
oreat degree to the modifying influences
of climate. and in part to rude selec-
fion. In some cases these breeds have
reached high degree of development,
while in other countries the hocks have
shown no improvement for centuries.
This country, young as it is, has made
its contribution to the list of useful
breeds in the american Merino. Our
climate and pastures have better salts
fied the wants of this fine wool-bearing
animal than those of his native country,
and now the American Merino stands
1T the head of the fine-wool sheep of the
world. This breed would seem to have
reached that point in its development
where it appears of but little use to try |
to further improve it. The first impor-
tations of Merino sheep into this coun-
try were made early in the present CEN
fury of very choice animals from the
best families of Spain. The most ex-
AAOAA'
VIM, Jarvis, the American Consul at
Lisbon, in 1909 to 1910, who sent over
nearly 1000 head. From these Spanish
sheep as basis, and by means of care
full crossing, breeding, and selecting
from several distinct focks, the present
Merino has been produced. and is now
80 unlike other Merinos as to take rank
as distinct breed with the prefix
"American.n
The sheep industry in the United
States is vast and important, and in the
consideration of which there are two
partially distinct, and, at the same time,
interlocking interests. Sheep were in
early times grown almost solely for
their wool, and with the annual shear
ing came the years income but in later
times, and never SO prominently as
now, the carcass is looked upon as an
important item in sheep husbandry.
Mutton as cheap and acceptable meat
has of late grown greatly in popularity,
and mutton now stands as one of the
important factors in the successful rails
ing of sheep. In view of the fact that
the Merino is essentially wool-pro-
ducing breed, with a fleece of the
finest and best quality, it is evident
that the pure. blood Merino, though it
may supply our manufactures with the
material for the finest of wOollen goods,
on the other hand it cannot satisfy the
butcher. The sheep having to both feed
and clothe its keeper, it is an import
sheep to do this? Evidently not the
pure blood Merino. Though the grow
ing of pure FLOODED Merinos has its
place, and an important one, and the
demand for their wool indicates the
prosperity of manufacture of the finest
goods, it is in the crossing of them with
other breeds in which the fesh.prOduc'
ing qualities predominant, that q sheep
best for both meat and wool is produced
A cross-bred is the one that in most 10
calities is to pay. The Merino is slow
of growth and small of carcass when
mature; but when crossed with rapid
grower, one that natures early, is q
nigh feeder, and lays on flesh rapidly
in quantity or quality, sheep is OBJ
tanned that pays for itself in its wool Of
prime quality, and furnish a good guam.
tity of mutton as a profit. OF such
character are the crosses of the MerinC
with the Cotswold and the South-down.
But with the great mass of American
sheep on the western plains, wool is the
important product, and here the cross
must be with the Merino upon thu
"Native"-a race of sheep which ha!
grown out of variety of early impor-
tations to this eountry-an interiors;
ing of various breeds in which many OF
the good points have been lost. In this
field the Merino has a great work to dc
to raise the yield of wool 1, 2, or more
pounds per head, and give it higher
value. The opportunity for the in
crease of our sheep interest is almost
without limit so far as favorable con
ditions of vast plains and healthfui eli
mate is concerned, and with our pres
ent large importations of woollen goods
it is certain that no raw wool woulC
lack for a market. There are many
places where sheep may go and thrive
that cattle and other life stock dare moi
tread; and it should be the ambition O
sheep-raisers to fill all these places with
sheep adapted to these conditions, ir
the production of which the pure BLOOD
Merino must find its full share of work
The revival in the sheep interest that il
now in progress is both healthy anC
permanent. The surplus of wool ant
wooden goods is exhausted, and tn
growing crop is in demand. The ship
ping Of whole car loads of Merino RAM
to the flOcks of the great West, witt
calls for more than the East can supply
is not in the nature of "boom," but
founded upon the demands of the time
and the merits of the breed.