The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-24
Wealth in Merino Sheep.

In the sheep industry of the United
States, varied and checkered as it has
been, OWING to political troubles, billiards
and ignorance, the Merino sheep has fig
ured more prominently than any other
lreed, and while troubles and drawbacks
have beset the farmers these fine type of
animals have been steadily adding mill
ions of dollars to the national wealth
of the farm. The American Merino has
become so closely identified with the
country that it is almost the national ami
nal and its praises are heard wherever
sheep raising has been carried on with any
intelligence There are other breeds of
sheep which possess many noble qualities
| in a far greater degree than the Merino,
better wool producers, better mutton
makers, better mothers and nurses of
young lambs, but nowhere has the breed
vet been discovered that answers all the
purposes required for typical American
| sheep that will thrive in wide ranges OF
country, and in climates so varied and
| changeable as to make life constant bat
| tie against the elements, so well as the
| American Merino.
The sheep industry in this country as a
whole teaches a wholesome lesson. 1t re-
| fleets the uncertainty and unreasonable
yicissitudes of American life in its early
stages. 1t has been doomed and inflated
| to such an extent as to make 1t ridiculous,
| and it has also reached the other extreme,
| the lowest stage of deression. At one time
| sheep-raising seemed 10 promise fortunes
| for all, and then it was pronounced
| dead failure. 1t is wonder that
| through such vicissItudes that even
one fine breed of sheep could be evolved
| and developed I'D to the standard which
| the American Merino can safely lay claim
| to today The original Merino sheep i'm
| ported to this country from Spain is
| far inferior today to the American Meri-
no as a mongrel cur OF the Indians Is to
a full-hlooded mastiff of registered breed.
And this development and improvement
has been accomplished by the intelligence
of few iockmasters in the face of great
| opposition and disbursement. Prob
ably no other breed of sheep could pass
through what the Merino breed has, and
not lose its high qualities and depreciate
in value. Worried by dogs, neglected
often, killed off for mutton after the price
of wool fell, and in a thousand other ways
retarded in its full development, the breed
has succeeded through all In maintaining
It's purity of breed, and IN advancing in
excellence.
We find today the American Merino
stands foremost among sheep for its fine
wool, and in new countries especially il is
in great demand. Whenever crossed with
other breeds it always improves the quail
ity of the wool. and Australia hock-mas-
tiers eagerly seek for such cross to their
countless flocks. well-bred American
Merino is 4 tall, noble-looking. animal, in
heriting superior qualities from line
of ancestors, and possesses such hardy
qualities that it can readily adapt itself TO
great extremes of climate. II Is scarcely
necessary 10 say that the majority of the
sheep tiocks in this country are composed
of this breed, and in localities where the
special breed has not yet been found the
American Merino does better than any
other. There are other breeds that would
probably do better in certain peculiar Sec
lions of the land, but until experiment
has shown what breeds to use the Ameri-
can Merino must do.
The American Merino has proved such
fine animal to the farmers that every
thing possible should be done in return.
The breed has not yet reached its highest
perfection. and there is ample room for
making the animals more valuable. The
breed has reached its present type through
uncertain treatment, and with good,
careful, intelligent devotion IL may
be brought TO q much higher type. The
effort is well worth the trial. A uniform
public policy toward sheep husbandry il
needed, and then wise. intelligent study