Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-04-29
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large flocks, and to roam over large sections
of country in search of food. For new coun-
tries with extensive ranges, no other sheep
compares with the merino in adaptabiiisy.
The merino, like all other breeds of sheep,
and indeed all domestic animals, is subject to
great changes in its peculiar qualities and hsb-
it's The American merino of to-day is almost
an entirely different animal from the origins
merino as originated and bred in Spain Gen.
turies ago. The changes that have been made
in the American meiino within the past fifty
years are truly wonderful. The meat Of the
old merino was scarcely considered fit for the
table, on account of its strong and unpleasant
flavor, and the animal being so small its value
for mutton hardly receiy ed consideration. In
transportation from Europe to America,
the resultant changes have been very great,
making larger and better formed animal
more valuable for wool and possessing car
cass at orcs large and more compact, and de-
veloping greater capacity for meat making.
The changes in the quality of the meat have
not been less pronounced than in the direction
of greater quantity. At the present time
there is without any doubt much larger
amount of merino mutton consumed in the
United States than of any other kind, and
good judges are claiming that of all the breeds
of sheep the merino is the superior mutton
breed, and the most profitable. In addition
to the objections of size and hlvor to the
merinos as mutton sheep, the natural late
maturity has been a difficult point to over.
come. The changes that have already been
produced in this popular sheep have been so
great, and have been brought about in 80
limited period and without auy particular
united aid or concert of action among breed
ers, give warrant that the time may come
when the merino may become the first NUT
ton as well as the first wool sheep of the
world. Professor Samson, an eminent French
authority, claims to have proven that the
merino is capable of the same development
in precocity, and in the production of flesh,
as the Euglish down races. He has written
an elaborate argument on this subject,
and in the course of the argument he says ::
/" We can procure in France, with the same
degree of precocity, and in the same condi-
tions, as many merino rams as southdowns.
The former, at the same age, weigh as much,
if not more, than the latter. They give as
much meat as, if not more than, the latter.
and of an unquestionably better quality"
He claims that the merino has been per-
fected SO as to remove the folds of
skin, and to take on all the de-
sirable conformations of the southdown.
Upon the important point that the merino,
while being bred into a mutton sheep, pre-
serves its value as ol-producer, the Pro-
fessor says 1t is generally admitted, from
reasoning priori, that the absence of folds
in the skin of the precocious merinos must
necessarily diminish the extent of the surface
covered with wool; and that the rapidity of
growth, due to the abundance and special
qualities OF nourishment, cannot fail to in
crease the size of the hairs of the same wool.
I have proposed to determine scientifically
the truth of these two inductions My re-
searches were made upon twenty-five speci-
mems, collected during an excursion made
with the students of the school of Grignon, in
1872" The results of his investigations are
given in detail in table from which the Pro-
fessor considers demonstrated:
l. The precocious development of merino
sheep having the effect to carry their apti-
tude to produce flesh to the highest degree
that sheep can attain, exercises no influence
upon the fineness Of their wool. This pre-
serves the diameter which it would have had
if developed IN normal conditions, for the
reason that the diameter depends upon the
individual and hereditary aptitude.
2. The influence exercised upon the hair of
the wool exhibits itself by an augmentation
OF the length or the same halr, It's growth De-
ing more active. There is, therefore, more
woolly substance produced in the same time.
5. The precocious development does not
appear to have any influence upon the mum.
Der of curves or crimps which exist in the
hair for fixed length.
4. 1t does not vary the number of hairs or
wool bulbs existing for a determined extent
of the surface of the skin. There is no
change in the density The increase in length
makes the fleece appear less dense.
5. The quality and quantity of the yolk
are not modifed-these depending upon an
individual aptitude, susceptible of being
modified by hereditary.
g. Precocity of development increases the
total weight OF fleece, as, from the moment
that the diameter and number of hairs do not
diminish, while the length increases, there
must necessarily be an increase of substance,
the relative quantity and quality of yolk re-
naming the same.
T. The commercial value of the fleece is
increased, not only by reason of its greater
weight, but also by reason of the value that
attaches to combing woods pro rata, according
to their length.