National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-10

ing Association al 81, Louis, April ., 1850,
an able aud highly interesting historical
resume OF the progress Of sheep husbaudry
n America, which is published in full, as
follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: There
is no industry In this country older than
sheep husbandry. IL came in with the first
settlers. Into Massachusetts, and New
York came the English and Dutch sheep OF
the seventeenth century, and the common
flocks Of England were early brought into
Virginia. Sheep were brought into james.
town IN 1909, These were so different from
the English breeds Of to-day that they could
scarcely be recognized rs progenitors OF the
CotswOlds and Lcicesters. Even the an-
Client Southdown, with no change except
by selection and feeding, has shortened the
lcrs. hroedcned the chest, increased the
weight Of carcass, aud thlckened the fleece
till u appears quite another animal. The
first settlers Of New England brought them
ne a necessity OF colonization, as they had
long b,cn recognized as n necessity Of
civilization. Thus the sheep OF the United
States have had history Of nearly three
centuries.
Yet the great advance Of this industry has
been the work Of the present century.
They had previously furnished material for
idumestic Manufacture, for the olothiug tn
dustries Of the household, the yarn for
hand knitting, aud the material fOI manu-
facturc IN the rough hand.loOm3, with
WHICH our country women were so indus.
triOus and so expert.
During this period the wool was coarse
and the Fleece light. The Merino. had not
made fits appearance for the larger portion
were the common sheep OF English origin.
The compact, short limbed animals which
are now typical OF improved breeds were
not th(n In existence.
INTRODUCTION OF THE MERtSo.
The great event In American sheep hus-
baudry was the introduction OF the Spanish
Merno. These Spanish sheep were guarded
against possible expectation until the last
quarter Of the eighteenth century. They
had long been source OF great revenue,
cropping the heritage OF the high mountains
in summer In great nocks, and descending
to the valleys and plains In winter. In
1TC5 Mcrinos were introduced into Germany
by the eleCtor OF SuXony. In 1775 the EN-
press Maria Theresa imported 800 into
Hungary and located them on the imperial
farm, established school OF shepherds,
and bred the flock for its own improve
merit and the modification OF the native
races. Other importations followed into
Austria and Germany about this tune, es-
tablishing the Electoral and Negretti FAINT
lies which became so popular and profit
able. In 1776 they were introduced into
France, and In 1856 Louis XIV obtained
from Spain flock of Merinos and placed
3G4 selected animals on his imperial farm at
Rambouillet, In the department OF Seine,et-
Disc, establishing the breeding station
which has originated the type OF the French
Merinos as the Germans did that of the
Saxon and Silesian, which have been sent to
all parts of the world for the improvement
of sheep husbandry.
This country was not to be far behind In
the race for Improvement In this wonderful
breed, in competition with France, Ger
many, and Austro-Hungary. In 1893 Mr..
William Foster imported three Merinos into
Boston and gave them to friend, who
killed and ate them for muttonl In 1901
four rams were shipped to New York, but
only one survived tncv5yage. 1t was sent
to Delaware, and became the basis Of an
improvement Of wool by the production Of
valuable grade Merinos. The commence
ment Of the development Of the American
Merino family dates from 1902. la that
year cur minister 10 France, Mr.. Living
ston, sent home TWO pairs OF French Mer-
mos, as modified by n course of breeding
with the original Spanish; and our minister
to Spain, Col. Humphreys, sent twenty-one
rams and seventy ewes, selected from the
best nocks Of Spain. Other importations
followed rapidly. The interest in wool
growing was thoroughly aroused, and i'm
provemcnt was rapid.
In 1910 Livingston's ewes averaged five
pounds thirteen ounces Of wool per head,
and one ram weighed I45 pounds and
sheared eleven ponndsGleven ounces, while
his common ewes sheared scarcely two
pounds OF fiber almost as coarse as carpet
wool. ...,...,.. .......... .....,
About this time importations were heavy;
those Of Col. Jarvis, consul general at LIS
bon, in 100, aggregated $3.50 animals from
Hr,, N ~ oh oh lac
Sheep were popular, prices high, and the
desire for the Improvement OF ilOcks be-
came general among farmers.
These impoTtatiOns excited little atten-
ton at first. When the difficulties with
England and France arose in 1907, and the
embargo was imposed, wool rose to 81 per
pound, and Mr.. Livingston obtained 81 per
pound for unwashed wool of full-bood
Metinos in 1909 aud 1910. Some imported
rams were sold at 81 900 each, but when the
peace Of Client In 1915 was proclaimed and
commerce re-establlshed q Merino could be
bought at 81 per head; the full-blood aocks
were mostly broken up, and woolgrowing
was practically abandoned. Prices did not
rally materially for nine years, when new
impetus was given to manufacturing. Me
rinos were again in favor, and the Saxon
family, noted for the flneness OF It's wool
became popular, and importatons were
made for several years In considerable mum
bers. Between 1880 and 1910 the Saxon
fleece rarely sold for more than 10 cents pei
pound above the Spanish Merino, which
produced at least third more wool. re-
action commenced In 1910 against the
Saxons, which was aided by the uniform 81
per ccntum duty on fine and coarse wool.
This improvement of the breed continued
quite slowly till after 1860, when the de
mand for wool, the danger Of embargo o.
restriction Of foreign wool, the imperative
necessity OF greatly augmented supply
gave an extraordinary impetus to sheeJ
husbandry, to the value OF sheep and wool
and to the Improvement Of the breed. Tha
improvement In breeding centerlng In Yer
mont and Western New York, and almost
equally active In Ohio aud Michigan,
rapidly increased the weight OF fleeces, en-
-larged the numbers Of high Merino grades
and eventually infused Merlno blood into tn,
common ilocks, increasing the average
weight Of fleece and enlarging the clip o.
the country. Thus the average weight Of
fleece, which was scarcely two pounds IL
1910, less than two and half In 1850, ant
trine over two and half In 1860, had In
creased to three and half pounds In 1870
This improvement has extended to thu
great hocks OF Texas, the territories, anC
the Pacific coast, modifying the Mexican
sheep, which are coarse wool, though Of
Spanish origin, until the yield Is about flv,
pounds per head for the entire country
doubling the yield per head In twenty-hv
years, while the numbers have IN ore thai
doubled, giving more than four times tn
domestic supply Of wool that was produced
In 1850.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED.
The improvement which has given us tn
American Merinos Is characterized by SUI
passing density OF fleece, with staple some
what heightened and medium degree o
flneness. In the original Spanish Merino, Il
their native country, the staple was inter
tionally kept short enough TO meet the re
quirements OF the broadcloth manufacture
The prevailing fashions Of the past genera