The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-02-23
EARMERStCOLUMN
American Merino sheep.

B. |N . |. LOO
q, When the frst prizes for Merino sheep
we're awarded to American Msrinos at. d the
International Exposition at Hamburg about
twenty years ago, all Europe was astOnish.
cd. The Yankee sheep took the prizes over
the best focks OF Europe. and they could
not understand It. After the first surprise
was over, the European sheep growers. at
the close Of the exhibition, did the best
possible thing-tbey pnrehased the Ameri-
can Merinos, or "vermont Merinos," as
they we're generally called, for the improve
ment Of their own focks, al What was then
au unusual price.--The American Merinos
are the result OF several importations, made
early in the present century from Spain,
and included animals from the Paalar
Iufautado, Negrctti, and other celebrated
hocks, regarded as the finest 10 Spain. goi
these early importations, some were lost
sight Of, or "run OUT" through careless
breeding. Others were bred with great
care, and by crossing with other pure Ascks
under our climate and With no doubt bet.
ter feeding, they gradually developed, per
haps unintenionally on the part of the
breeders, into distinct family Of Merinos
now known as American. The superiority
Of The American over the best European
families of Merinos is shown, in the first
place, in its greater size and weight While
the rams of the most noted of The Spanish
Hooks range from sixty to one hundred
pounds-thiS lass a weight rarely reached
the American MeriDo rams run to one hun
dred and twenty pounds, and upwards To-
one hundred and eighty pounds. These
large weights are accompanied by shorter
neck and legs, an Increased width oi loin
and, whatis most important, a great in.
crease in the weights of fleece. Some Aocks
have averaged ten pounds Of washed wool,
and individual rams have greatly exceeded
this weight. The American Merino is
marked by strong folds and wrinkles, and
some hocbs have been bred with view to
these. 1t is common impression that ex
cesslve wrinkles irsd icate purity Of breed ami
fneness OF wool, and breeders have endeag .
orel tn meet the prevailing taste for heavily
wrinkled sheep. Those who look to the
best returns in wool d. not approve Of ex
cessiye wrinkles, as they increase the diff.
Guilty and the cost Of shearng. Breeders
differ as to the amount Of yolk and [desir-
able in the wool, ard this is sometimes
excessive. Fashion has much TO do with
both yolk and wrinkles; the present tend
ency is to reduce the amount Of both The
Americans have been found to be superior
to any Of the European Merinos for iInprov-
ing the f0ckes Of Australia. A few months
ago an Australian fo:k master who called
upon us, said that the sole object of his
visit to this country was To purchase Ameri
can Merino rams. He attributed the great
improvement which has lately been mani
fest I'd in Australian sheep, 70 the 7ntroduc-
ton Of American Merinos. We notice tha /
Eu ,Iish Agricultural writers speak of the
imDroyement ID Auslralisn sheep by the
introduction of Merino rams. In sheep
raising, as 10 many other branches of agri
culture, Australians and New Zealauders
look to America Tor aid and improvement,
rather than to the mother country.-Am.
AgricuitWriSt.