Sheep husbandry in the South: comprising a treatise on the acclimation of sheep in the southern states, and an account of the different breedsAlso, a complete manual of breeding, summer and winter management, and of the treatment of diseases .. . t, in carefully managed or smallflocks. We have already adverted to the cross between the Merino and thenative sheep. On the introduction of the Saxon family of the Merinos, theywere universally engrafted on the parent stock, and the cross was contin-ued until the Spanish, blood was nearly bred out. When the admixturetook place with judiciously select
Sheep husbandry in the South: comprising a treatise on the acclimation of sheep in the southern states, and an account of the different breedsAlso, a complete manual of breeding, summer and winter management, and of the treatment of diseases .. . t, in carefully managed or smallflocks. We have already adverted to the cross between the Merino and thenative sheep. On the introduction of the Saxon family of the Merinos, theywere universally engrafted on the parent stock, and the cross was contin-ued until the Spanish, blood was nearly bred out. When the admixturetook place with judiciously selected Saxons, it resulted not unfavor-ably for certain purposes. But unfortunately these instances of judiciouscrossing were rare. Our country was flooded by eager speculators, withthe feeblest and least hardy Merinos of Germany. Fineness of wool during * Youatt, p. 149. s 138 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. the period of this strange excitement, was made the only test of excellence,no matter how scanty its quantity, no matter how diminutive or miserablethe carcass. Governed by such views, the holders of most of our Merinoflocks purchased these over-delicate Saxons, and the consequence was asmight have been foreseen—their flocks were HOWL ma ^^ SAXON RAM Saxons.— In the year 1765, Augustus Frederick, Elector of Saxony, ob-tained permission from the Spanish Court to import two hundred Merinos,selected from the choicest flocks of Spain. They were chosen principallyfrom the Escurial flock, and on their arrival in Saxony, were placed on aprivate estate belonging to the Elector, under the care of Spanish much importance was attached to the experiment, as it was then con-sidered, that a commission was appointed to superintend the aflairs of theestablishment; and it was made its duty to diffuse information in relationto the management of the new breed ; to dispose of the suiplus rams atprices which would place them within the reach of all holders of sheep ;and fin
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectsheep, bookyear1848
