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Show wool. He was alert to possibilities offering ways to his objectives. The Rambouillet as we know it today was non-existent at that time in the United States. But when John K went into the purebred business in early 1910, his foundation stock came from the finest flocks in the eastern United States. With that in mind, it is appropriate here to give a brief history of the Rambouillet breed of sheep. The story of the Rambouillet is long and complex, but extremely interesting: In long ago Spain the Merino breed of sheep was jealously guarded by the Spanish government to prevent other countries from obtaining their special kind of sheep. But with change being the law of the universe (then as it is now) progress was inevitable. In 1785 King Louis XVI of France was brave enough to ask the King of Spain for the privilege of purchasing a few of Spain's finest Merinos for experimental purposes in producing a different breed of sheep. Because of kingly ties the favor was granted and in due time a number of their choice merinos were shipped to the city of Rambouillet, France (near Versailles) , It was from Rambouillet that the famous new breed derived its name. King Louis established an experiment station in Rambouillet where the work of evolving a new type of sheep was carried on with careful selection and breeding for a number of years. Then war interrupted the progress of the project, for men forgot the pursuits of peace in the frenzy of revolution and 120 |