Sheep husbandry; with an account of the different breeds, and general directions in regard to summer and winter management, breeding, and the treatment of diseases .. by Randall Henry S

Author:Randall, Henry S[tephens], 1811-1876. [from old catalog]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Sheep
Publisher: New York, A. O. Moore
Published: 1859-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

ness. The threads of the former are spun to extreme fineness to economize the costly raw material. To give it that finish which is demanded by fashion—to give it its beautiful nap—these threads are still farther reduced l»y "gigging" and "shearing." But spin fine wool into yarn as coarse as that used in Chelmsfords, and manufactui'e it in the same way, and it would make a far stronger and more durable cloth. The reasons are obvious. Merino wool is decidedly stronger than the English coarse Long and Middle wools—or any other coarse wools—in proportion to its dianifter or bulk. It felts far better, and there is thei'efore a greater cohesion between the different fibres of the same thread, and between the different threads. It is also more pliable and elastic, and consequently less subject to "breaking" and abrasion.

Unless the views I have advanced are singularly erroneous, it will be seen that, for wool-growing purposes, the Merino possesses a marked and decided superiority over the best breeds and families of coarse-wooled sheep. As a mutton sheep, it is inferior to some of those breeds, but not so much so as it is generally reputed to be. If required to consume the fat and lean together, many who have never tasted Merino mutton, and who have an unfavorable impression of it, would, I suspect, find it more jialatable than the luscious and over-fat New Leicester. The mutton of the cross between the Merino and "Native" sheep would certainly be preferred to the Leicester, by anybody but an English laborer used to the fatter. It is short-grained, tender, and of good flavor. The same is true of the crosses with the English varieties. These will be, hereafter, more particularly alluded to. Grade Merino wetbers (say half-bloods) are favoj--ites with the Northern drover and butcher. They are of good size—extraordinarily heavy for their apparent bulk*—make good mutton—tallow well—and their pelts, from the greater weight of wool on them, command an extra price. They would, in my opinion, furnish a mutton every way suitable for plantation consumption, and one which would be well accepted in the Southern markets.

In speaking of tlie Merino in this connection, I have in all cases, unless it is distinctly specified to the contrary, had no referenc'e to the Saxons— though they are, as it is well known, pure-blooded descendants of the former.

Assuming it now as a settled point, that it is to the Merino race that the wool-grower must look for the most profitable sheep, let us now proceed to inquire which of the widely varying sub-varieties of this race are best adapted to the wants and circumstances of the South. A brief glance at the history of wool-growing, and of the wool markets, for the last few years, will form an useful preliminary inquiry, and will assist us materially in arriving at a correct conclusion.

On the introduction of the Saxons, about twenty-four years since, they weie sought with avidity by the ho-lders of the fine-wooled flocks of the country, consisting at that time of pure or grade Merinos.

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