Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on Breeding Merino Sheep, [ca. 13 May 1810]
Enclosure
Notes on Breeding Merino Sheep
from 2. full blooded ewes & their female descendants will proceed annually the following numbers either of rams or ewes separately, or the double in the aggregate.
1st | year | 1. | ![]() |
|||
2d | 2 | |||||
3d | 2 | being | 34. rams for distribution | |||
4th | 4 | 34. ewes + the 2. originals to be retained | ||||
5th | 5 | |||||
6th | 8 | |||||
7th | 12 |
from 100. common ewes & their female descendants will proceed annually the following number of either rams or ewes separately,1 or the double in the aggregate of ½ breeds, ¾, ⅞ and full
half blood | ¾ blood | ⅞ blood | full blood | |||||
1st year | 50 | |||||||
2d | 50 | + | 25 | |||||
3d | 50 | + | 25 | + | 13 | |||
4th | 50 | + | 25 | + | 12 | + | 6 | |
5th | 50 | + | 25 | + | 13 | + | 6 + 3 | |
6th | 50 | + | 25 | + | 12 | + | 6 + 3 + 2 | |
7th | 50 | + | 25 | + | 13 | + | 6 + 3 + 2 + 1 | |
350 | + | 150 | + | 63 | + | 24 + 9 + 4 + 1 | = 601. |
to wit | 38. rams | full blooded for distribution | |||
38. ewes | full bloodd to be retained | ||||
63. rams | ![]() |
⅞ blood | ![]() |
for our friends for sale or for the table |
|
63. ewes | |||||
150. rams | ![]() |
¾ blood | |||
150 ewes | |||||
350 rams | ![]() |
½ blood | |||
350 ewes |
MS (DLC: Madison Papers); entirely in TJ’s hand; undated.
1. Manuscript: “separtely.”