3-017-125 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Merino ram, lately exhibited at Dresden, 1865. 'The modem "golden fleece" is said to be in Saxony, and [this] ram, which was sold for a large sum at the recent Dresden Show to one of the largest breeders of fine wool in Silesia, wore it to some purpose. He was the property of Mr. Adolph Heiger, of Lentewitz...and was exhibited along with nineteen others, also bred by that gentleman. They gained several prizes, as well as an extra gold medal, given by the Government. The largest ram is said to have weighed 192 lb., and the largest ewe 125 lb., and both would yield from 8 lb. to 9 lb. of clean washed wool. The flock of Mr. Heiger was established, sixty years ago, from sheep imported direct from Spain by the Elector of Saxony. Some of them were exhibited at Battersea in '62, and the official report of the Royal Agricultural Society has these comments on the breed in general: "The French Merinos are valuable for their size and mutton, as well as their wool, which weighs from 8lb. to 18lb. in the grease...Those from Saxony were not equal in size to the French, though very famous for the quality of their wool, a consideration which had to yield to that of superior form when an umpire was called in to decide between the English and Saxon judges".' From "Illustrated London News", 1865.