But it is evident that these demands characterizing the breeding of Negrettis were as many barriers against the ever impending overgrowth and its pernicious consequences, and that thereby a firmer foundation was secured to the entire organism of the animals, than could have been established, if the animals selected for breeding had been judged with less rigor, in respect to the above points, and if, as it then is likely to happen, essential defects in the structure of the body are overlooked and forgotten on account of the superiority of the wool.

It has been asserted that that famous affliction causing the heaviest losses to the breeders of Merino sheep-vertigo-was not hereditary in the Negretti race, and never had prevailed among them, or was likely to ever make its appearance. This is an untenable assertion, for the posibility of the appearance of an evil, inherent to sheep generally, and even affecting the kindred goat,* cannot be denied, even in the case of Negretti sheep. If there is any truth in the rumor that now and then the vertigo makes its appearance amongst one of the most renowned Negretti flocks of France, it would be an evidence for the possibility of its appearance among any other Negretti flock. But if the breeder adheres to the principle of paying the greatest attention to power and a harmonious development of the body and not sacrificing the energy of the organism to the properties of the wool, there is evidently very little danger of an appearance of the above named disease; and, therefore, as long as the breeders continue to be faithful to themselves, the Mechlenburg Negrettis give security for their lasting good health, not by the race in itself, but by the principles according to which they are bred.

I have tried to furnish a general characteristic of the flocks of Mechlenburg and Pomerania, descended from Hoschtitz blood, and now I shall consider the question so often put, namely, whether these or similar flocks, which, in the one way or the other, arrived at the same result, might contribute appropriate material for remedying the defects of the Merinos in many regions of our country, and improving them. This question cannot be properly answered before we have described, at least by general delineations, the state of Merino breeding beyond the above named district, and determined what defects are prevalent in this branch of producing domestie animals.

In order to obtain a survey of the condition of sheep breeding in general, and of the breeding of Merino sheep in our Prussian fatherland in par

* In the Margraviate of Brandenburg it often happens that goats are affected by vertigo. † Quite recently I have received, from a reliable source, the confirmed report that a flock in Northern Germany, which was fully entitled to the name of “Negretti," was destroyed by vertigo.

ticular, I ventured a few years ago to propose to the agricultural societies of the monarchy a series of questions in respect to this subject, soliciting replies. It affords me great pleasure to find here an opportunity of gratefully acknowledging the friendly courtesy with which the societies complied with my request. From all parts of the country I received reports most of which were very thorough-going, and these communications, sixty-nine in number, spoke with so rare a candor and frankness of the state of the breeding of Merino sheep at that time, that, aided by my own extensive acquaintance with the subject in Prussia, I considered myself sufficiently well informed to gain a survey of the present condition of this branch of breeding animals in general and in toto. Although this survey may be pleasing and bright in general, and give flattering evidence of the extraordinary progress made by the sheep breeders of Prussia in multiplying and improving Merinos and mongrel-Merinos, in a comparatively short space of time, yet, on the other hand, it shows also how much there remains yet to be done, and that an application of proper remedies against the defects and disorders of Merino breeding is urged if it is to continue profitable, in accordance with the prices of landed estates, and the revenues derived from other branches of breeding domestic animals.

Those reports, fully confirming my own observations, show the following facts:

1. In those countries where the breeding of Merino sheep forms an important branch of agriculture-in Prussia, Posen, Pomerania, Brandenburg, Silesia and Saxonia-the vertigo prevails to a greater or less extent. The efforts made to subdue this disease hitherto have not been successful, and if a decrease of the evil is noticed here or there, its violence seems to increase in other localities. Pomerania is least afflicted with it, while the complaints of it are almost general in Silesia.

2. With the exception of Pomerania, where, under the influence of her own Negretti stock-flocks and of those adjoining Mechlenburg, Negretti blood preponderates, and exists partly in its pure form, partly predominates in a mixture with Escurial blood; this latter is predominant to a considerable degree in the eastern provinces. There we find the purest type of this race spread over a large territory, originating from the tendency in breeding formerly pursued in Saxonia, the partial aim of which has exerted a regulating influence upon the breeding of Merino sheep in most districts to the present day. In localities where, by intermixture or crossing, the development of intermediate forms (N.E.-E.N.-E.E.N., &c.), was furthered, satisfactory forms of body were obtained; but seldom was the stature sufficient to prevent overgrowth, in cases where the Electoral type

was conserved unchanged. There we hear most frequently complaints of the shortness of the wool, and in consequence thereof, of twisting.

3. In all localities where the breeding of the Electoral sheep in its purest race, or only in the first stages of its tendency to the Negretti type, meets with the greatest favor, the weight of the fleece is very deficient. Under such circumstances the flocks of whole districts average no more than one and a half to two pounds per head, and there are many flocks falling even short of that. This unfavorable result cannot be counter-balanced by the price of wool, for even there, where wool is very scarce, its price, on an average, rarely exceeds 65 or 75 thaler (Prussian) per hundred weight, (112 lbs.), in any one year, while the meat-market, being seldom remunerative, precludes the means of increasing the fallen profits of Merino sheep breeding, by fattening; that in any country where the production of wool constitutes the chief end of Merino breeding, there are individual flocks affected, but to a limited extent or not at all, by the above-named evils, is a fact too well known to need further comment; but it is also known to be a matter of fact that not only isolated Electoral flocks, but larger breeding districts, especially in the province of Silesia, possess the properties of fineness and nobility of wool in so high a degree that the average price of this product exceeds by far that above stated. Yet among the large mass of the total production, these form but individual instances which do not essentially change the survey of Electoral breeding yet spread so far.

I believe, therefore, that the above characteristic will prove correct in general, and now we may consider the question whether the application of Negretti blood is to be considered as an appropriate remedy for removing the defects named of Escurial breeding.

To 1. As to the vertigo, I can repeat only what I have said on another occasion, ("On the breeding of animals, p. 62, &c."), namely, that inter-breeding and incestuous breeding, carried on consistently through many generations, develop the disposition to vertigo the more decidedly and the faster, the more one-sided the breeder keeps his eye only on the condition of the wool, and disregards debility in the entire organism and approaching over-growth of certain parts of the body. In the abovenamed work I have also mentioned that yet other circumstances may co-operate and accelerate an outbreak of the disease, but always a long continued inter-breeding is to be considered the chief cause of an occasional outbreak of the evil.*

* Mr. ELENER VON GRONOW, at Kalinowitz, states the following fact, which is worthy of notice, and confirms my view. (Annals of Agriculture, 1860, p. 250):

"Ewe No. 480, born in 1823, presented, in connection with a very high degree of fineness, a weight of fleece of 3 pounds and 13 ounces, which was extraordinary at that time. In the

Although the breeder may be successful in using those remedies which are offered him, by removing the co-operating causes of the disease; although the keeping and feeding of the animals according to strict dietetic rules, the late admittance of the ewes, the sparing use of the bucks, and the exclusion of aged animals from all participation in breeding, may have favora ble results, yet all these remedies will not exterminate the vertigo, if the breeder will not also determine upon an admixture of new, sound blood! The more vigorously this courses in the system, the surer his success is, and for this reason: The breeding of Negrettis tending, according to what has been said above, to the development of such a vigorous blood, will fur nish the most appropriate material.

To 2. That the defects in the stature of the Electoral sheep, and the disposition to an over-growth of the forms of the body so frequently found, must be removed, and make room for more normal figures by crossing with the vigorous, well-built Negretti, is proved by experience, and must be acknowledged by the adversaries of the more recent tendency in breeding.

To 3. The breeding of the Negretti sheep also tends, by developing an appropriate form of body, to create not only a powerful animal not liable to over-growth, but also a spacious wool field; and to cover this all over with the most regular possible density is the anxious care of the breeder. He can not be bribed by the fineness, nobility, truthfulness and equality of the wool, if the quantity is unsatisfactory; and this, in connection with those properties, makes an animal valuable only when also the head, the legs and the belly are completely covered, and especially the latter with a sufficiently long and dense staple. Consistent adherence to these strict demands, and merciless rejection of animals not coming up to this standard, have created Negretti flocks whose weight of fleece astonishes the breeder of Escurials. Can there be any doubt that this blood is able to remedy the poverty in wool of the Escurial flocks, and to increase the weight of their fleece within a short time? Surely not, if we may answer this question, according to analogies in the science of breeding. Yet what could there be more decisive than facts for the case in question-successful experiments, proving a posteriori, that the proposed remedies will not fail. Here I will not refer to the above-mentioned reports of the agricultural societies, for although they confirm almost unanimously the fact of an essential progress

year 1828, therefore, it was determined to breed from her, and her two daughters nearly like her, a separate stock-flock; and to distinguish them from all other sheep of the flock, their tails were not cut off, and, besides, they were kept by themselves in a fold separate from the folds of the establishment.

In 1842 this stock-flock of very beautiful and vigorous animals, having great riches in wool, had reached the number of 50, when the vertigo broke out amongst them, by which disease they were all destroyed in the year 1848.

in obtaining heavier fleeces to be caused by an admixture of Negretti blood to Escurial flocks, yet, more generally, they furnish views and observations founded on instances proved by figures. We will consider the latter, especially such as are taken from flocks without sale of bucks, and are undoubtedly reliable.

"Since 19 years," says chief-bailiff Bleyer, in the Georgine, 1860, “I bred sheep; in the first 14 years I bred only Electorals, with the utmost care and attention, used bucks from other good flocks for whose wool was paid more than 100 thalers per hundred weight, and aimed chiefly at richness in wool, but I could not make any progress with my flock. Nevertheless I would force a progress, and kept ewes mostly, in order to have the choice of animals for my flock from among a numerous offspring. The very noblest animals, which undoubtedly would have raised the price of wool from 100 thaler to 115 thaler per hundred weight, but could not bear the food, pasture, and climate of this locality, were killed at their birth and given to the dogs; and besides, of 500 lambs that were sold every year, about 100 head at 20 to 25 silver groshen, having the signs of sparceness in wool, red ears, bare heads and feet. During the past 16 years my shepherd had free access to the oats chest for lambs, which, of course, had to be stopped in the last three years; yet the progress in my flocks remained very trifling until the so-called Negretti swindle.

"But in the 5 years during which I used mongrel bucks,* (as they are named in the above mentioned essay,) from three Mechlenburg flocks, I have progressed not step by step, but by double-quick step. Now I have not to kill the lambs at their birth, or sell them at any price, for there are amongst six hundred lambs hardly six which are not very beautiful and powerful animals.

"Since 16 years, my flock averaged, at a price of wool of from 63 to 80 thaler, from 50 to 65 silver groshen per head, while in the last two years, the price of wool being only 67 to 76 thaler per hundred weight, it brought 3 thaler 5 silver groshen and more per head; and I confidently hope that, if no particular misfortune happens, the yield will be much larger next year.'

The following is an extract from the report on the exhibition of sheep at Pesth, from the 3d to the 6th of June, 1860, by Fr. Matthæi. (See Agronomic Journal.)

"Before we proceed to the sheep of pure Hungarian breed, we beg leave to mention a cross of Rambouillets and Merino sheep exhibited by Messrs.

* This refers to the objection so frequently made by the adversaries of the Negretti blood, namely, that the Mechlenburg flocks consisted chiefly of Mongrels, and could, therefore, not be qualified to furnish animals for breeding to improve other flocks.