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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2220, 18 June 1908, Page 1

OUR BRADFORD LETTER, THE MERINO SHEEP OF SPAIN. [Fuom Oun Sfkciai, Coiuiespondent.J BRADFORD, May, 1. When one thinks of Iho vast numbers of merino sheep ono naturally goes back in thought to Spain, tor Horn that little country tholine pooled '-'flocks of the world really began. 1 lately snw some, samples of- merino wool 1 rent Spain, and they eamo from a noted llock which for centuries have been kept pure. Alongside were placed other samples received about the same time from Saxony, but the latter showed much better characteristics than the former. Although Spam is the homo of the merrino, yet 1 am positivo that its breeders liavo not ’ shown the same spirit of enterprise as have Australian' merino sheep-breod-ers, and the line wools from the Commonwealth. or ovon tlio Capo are superior in merit, quality, and growth to tlio Spanish wools of to-day. Tlio merino sheep of Spain laid the foundation for the merino flocks of tho world, and having tho raw material to work upon, tho favorablo climate and pasturage of other countries have done a great deal in developing tho' leading characteristics of.that famous breed. •But lot am look more directly to the merino sheep of Spain. ; The little four-footed animal which we call the sheep, is to both agriculturist and stock-breeder, a most useful farm product. Experience has proved, that to a country 0 f intensive cultivation, the breeds giving the largest percentage of meat are better paying. and that in countries with 'a pastoral system, fiiie-woolcd breeds art more remunerative.

i In general, the sheep must ho bred at the same time for its wool aiuf for its meat. Tho first Spanish breed era could not have been guided by these considerations. Tho sheep seem to have been born through happv circumstances more than through the outcome .of reason based upon acquired facts. It is stated that the English sheep which went to Spain in. 1339 constituted tho dowry of the daughter of John de Gaunt. According to Pliny and other ancient writers, Spain possessed before tho Roman occupation, sheep alreadly reputed for their fine fleeces. A difference must be made between the common sheep, or old Spanish ,and the merinos. According to tho seasons, tho first came down from tho mountains to flic plains, or went from the plains to the mountain, and the second was herded in low but fertile regions. 'The word “merinos” has different sources. Some say it is derived from “Inri,” which was the name of a famous breed of iPalestina; or marina (from across the sea), became a tradition, which has since proved false, will have it that it was brought from England into (Spain under iHenry 11. Tlie production of Spanish wool was in the sixteenth, century seven million pounds; at the beginning of the 17th century it fell to four millions, and in 1807 it was five million pounds. The process of the herds was often checked. Ferdinand, King of Portugal, who tlirico made war with Spain, m, 1369, 1372, and 1381, with the. help of England issued a warrant against the wandering of'flocks in the grazing time, and compelled each owner of a flock, under the severest penalties, to cultivate a part of the ground upon which his flock was to graze. Don Gasparo. Melchior- de Jorelanos, statesman, legislator, and man of (letters, said in a paper addressed to the King: ‘The owners of sheep are enjoying immense privileges; they have not only taken hold of the ground, but have driven, agriculturists away from fertile fields; they are responsible for tho ruin of agriculture, and for tho depopulation of tho country.” The shepherds started their apprenticeship at tho age of six or seven years, and Under the guidance of an old hand; they were generally as ’ignorant as superstitious, credulous, and obliged to go to Mass in turn, and to confession once a year. It- was in 1796 that India received its first merinos. Unfortunately they were sent to. the meridianal and occidental slopes of the Himalaya Mountains, where they suffered and died. Since, and chiefly from 1836 others, which were herded on dry pastures, have fairly prospered. The merinos have also done well on tlio plateaux of Mysaoro, Poonah, Salem, Oolenbatore, and on the hills of Neilgliiri. Some sheep were brought over from tho Cape, others in largo numbers from Australia. The Cape of Good Hope had great difficulties in procuring the favorite sheep. The Boers had a great preference for the fat tails, although these sheeps’ fleeces consisted more in hair than in wool. Lord Somerset, at tho. time Governor of the Cape, was successful in getting some specimens of sheep from the famous flock of--Lord ..Western. These were sent on their arrival to the Government Farm of Groot Point. Since the Rahbouillet sheep hove become familiar with the sheep breeders of the Cape. The Spanish colonies introduced the merinos at an early date, notwithstanding that tlio conquerera had -found aii indigenous sheep. Tho European variety developed so rapidly in Peru from 1680 to 1600, that tho selling price hampered very much the farming of tho sheep. The) Spanish meniio throve well. The “ Vienna,” had a wool of somewhat reddish color, that of tho Spanish-Peruvian crossbred was thinly scattered, and sometimes its length readied twelve inches. That breed was sent to Cliili. The Chilieuque, or Chilian sheep, has long legs, and a long neck, its length is 6 feet, and its height 4 feet-. . This animal is raised in its original country as a. boast, of burden. The mountain sheep are known for the excellence of tlio mutton, and lot their wool of fair quality. Those herding in the plains have both flesh and wool of inferior quality. In the Andes Mountains one meets a mongrel, the crossing of a goat and a ewe of very large dimensions and size. The genuine Chilian sheep of Spanish origin is noted for its strength and weight; its fleece weighs often from 12 to 16 pounds. I have just been reading a short account of these sheep from the pen of Mr. S. M. Lewin, of Paris, and he says that it is Dr. Livingstone that the United States of America must be thankful for the introduction of the first merino sheep in 1803. The first importation consisted of two pairs of Spanish merinos. Having read that Ximenes, the Spanish Bismark of the sixteenth century, renewed the (locks of his country by crossing them with African sheep, and that tho uncle of Columelle was in the habit of crossing tlio African ram with ewes from Tarente, Dr. Livingstone came to the conclusion that- it is probable that Spain owes- its race of merino sheep l<, the crossing of woollen sheep of that country with those of Barbiry. In 1823, the United States of America sent, to London 30 pounds of fine wool. The German merino made its appearance in 1826. In 1840 tho sheep numbered 19,311,374, producing only 35,820,1141bs of wool After

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