. Types and breeds of farm animals . Livestock. THf: DELAINE MERINO 361 While the fleece will not be as heavy as in the wrinkly type, it should weigh from seven to nine pounds, and sell without any reduction. This will equal an oily fleece of twelve to fourteen pounds, with a third taken off by the wool buyer. Plain sheep, as a rule, are better milkers, more careful mothers, have better feet, and are the easier to prepare for the butcher's block. Sheep of this variety should have a staple three inches long for twelve months' growth. Rams at maturity should weigh at least 150 pounds and ewes no
. Types and breeds of farm animals . Livestock. THf: DELAINE MERINO 361 While the fleece will not be as heavy as in the wrinkly type, it should weigh from seven to nine pounds, and sell without any reduction. This will equal an oily fleece of twelve to fourteen pounds, with a third taken off by the wool buyer. Plain sheep, as a rule, are better milkers, more careful mothers, have better feet, and are the easier to prepare for the butcher's block. Sheep of this variety should have a staple three inches long for twelve months' growth. Rams at maturity should weigh at least 150 pounds and ewes not less than 100 pounds. The Black Top Spanish Merino. The foundation of this variety extends back to the 1802 importation of Colonel Humphreys. Mr. W. R. Dickinson of Ohio, about 1809, purchased of Thomas Rotch some sheep of Humphreys's importation. In Dickinson's. Fig. 160. A group of Dickinson Delaine Merino ewes bred by Mr. H. G. McDowell and very typical of this family. Photograph from the owner hands these sheep were bred with some care for about twenty years. In 1821 William Berry of Washington County, Pennsyl- vania, purchased from Mr. Dickinson a few ewes and a choice ram of Spanish breeding. These sheep Mr. Berry bred with care, developing a large flock. Mr. Berry bred his flock in family lines at first, and then crossed the families, endeavoring to produce a large, heavy-shearing, fine-wool sheep with smooth body of mutton value. In his breeding he decided that those sheep with the darkest outer covering of wool or most oil had the hardiest con- stitutions and most vigor, and were less affected by change of climate than those with fleeces of lighter color. Thus he selected the darker sort and termed these Black Tops. In 1847 his flock numbered about 500 head, when he divided equally between. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may n
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