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GENERAL REPORT OF THE JUDGES OF GROUP IX. 2 I most interesting were Electoral wools, comparing favorably with the Silesian and Hungarian specimens, samples of the Donskoi carpet- wools, and a series of beautiful samples from the estate of the Grand Duchess Katharine Michailoona, showing the extraordinary length of fibre obtained from sheep of the Rambouillet race. Sheep-hus- handry constitutes one of the most important branches of rural economy in the Russian Empire. The full statistics obtained from the Russian Commissioner show that the total number of sheep in the Empire at the present time is 65,387,000,—Europe 49,493,000,, Asia 15,894,000,—a number which gives a proportion of 81 sheep to each 100 inhabitants. The distribution of sheep according to the population in the great divisions of Russia is as follows: The Provinces of Central Asia have per 100 inhabitants . . 565 sheep. Caucasus it . 124 “ Siberia a . 90 “ Russia in Europe a 70 “ Poland « • 65 “ Finland « • 49 “ Compared with the other great states of Europe, Russia occupies the fourth place. Great Britain has per loo inhabitants France . 133 sheep. • 97 “ Prussia « « « ..... 93 « Russia , « « « 81 “ Austria « « « ..... 47 “ Italy km *( ..... 38 “ The total number is composed of 12,555,000 head of Merinos and 52,832,000 common sheep. The principal domain of the Merinos is comprised in the Government of New Russia, which forms the south eastern portion of the Empire. The Governments of Caucasus, Siberia, and Central Asia have scarcely any, and Finland no Merinos; Georgia and Circassia possess mostly sheep of the ancient Colchian race. Generally considered, the fine-wooled sheep tend to decrease, as the increased price of wheat causes a large conversion of pastures into arable land. Both the Electoral and Negretti races are grown. The small product in wool of the former race, set down at two pounds for the ewe and three pounds for the wethers, has led to extensive crossing with the more vigorous race. The most successful crosses, and those now in most favor, are with Rambouillet rams. The reason given for this predilection is, that “ this wool responds best to the exigencies of the present wool-production, since the clothing industry tends to decrease, while that of worsted tissues takes daily more development.”