The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-01-21
AMERICAN MEninO SIEEP.

How They Came 10 Take the Lead.
american Agricultural. yt r6@lP'. g{
When the first prizes for Merino sheel
were awarded to American Merinos at ths
International Exposition at Hamburg
about twenty years ago, all Euaope was as
tonished. The Yankee sheep took thu
prizes over The best aocks Of Europe, and
they could not understand 1t. After The
first surprise was over, the European sheep
growers, at the close Of the exhibition, did
the best possible thing-they purchased
the American Merlnos, or vermont Mo.
rinos," as they we're generally called, for
the improvement Of their own tlocks, at
what was then an unusual price. The
American Merinoa arc the result Of several
importations, made early In the present
century from Spain, and included animals
from the Paular, 1nfautado, Negretti, and
other celebrated Hocks, regarded as
the very finest in Spain. OF these
early importations, some were
lost sight Of, or run out," through careless
breeding. Others were bred with great
care, aud by crossing with other pure
ilocks, under our climate and with no
doubt better feeding, they gradually de.
veloped, perhaps unintentionally on the
part OF the breeders, into distinct family
Of Merinos now known as American. The
superiority OF the American ever the best
European families oil Merinos Is shown, in
the first place, in its greater size and weight
While the rams Of the mes. noted OF the
Spanish flocks range from sixty 10 one hun.
dred pounds-thislas. weight rarely reached
the American Merino ram runs to
one hundred and twenty pounds,
and upwards to one hundred and
eighty pounds. These large weights
are accompanied by shorter neck and legs
and increased width Of loin and, what is
most important, a great increase in the
weight 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 Hocks have
been bred with q view to these. 1t is
commonimpression that excessive wrinkles
indicate purity Of breed and fneness Of
wool, and breeders have endeavored to
meet the prevailing taste for heavily
wrinkled sheep. Those who look to thu
best returns in wool do not approve Of ex-
cessive wrinkles, as they increase the diff
Guilty and the cost OF shearing. Breeders
differ as to the amount Of yok desirable
in the wool. and this is sometimes Excess
sive. Fashion has much to do with both
yolk and wrinkles; the present tendency
is to reduce the amount Of both. The
American have been found to be superior
to any Of the European Merinos for i'm.
proving tho aocks OF Australia. A few
months ago an Australian flock master who
called upon US, said that the sole OBJECT o.
his visit to this country was to purchase
American Merino rams He attributes the
great improvement which has lately been
manifested in Australian sheep to the in
PRODUCTION Of American Merinos. We no
tice that English agricultural writer's speak
Of the improvement in Australian eheep
by the Introduction Of Merino rams, but
they fail to state that It Is due to the Amer
lean rams. In sheep raising, as in many
other branches OF agriculture, Australians
aud New I.alanders look to America for
aid and improvement, rather than to the
mother country.