The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-08-05
From the berkshire { Mass. } Reporter.

.TfcuNuTOt ocsirhu. Oh gcncral principles,
but, for its direct present object, TO pro-
mote the introduction of Sfanish Sheet.
GENTLEMEN, 49,
As it a duty incumbent on every real we'll
wishcr to the community, especially in the
present solemn crisis, to promote the great
object in view, permit me to offer few re-
marks on the Important subject, which be-
ing new to us all, should be we'll agitated to
be we'll understood.
1t appears that in 1884, (the year after
the peace this county contained 81, 500
inhabitants, 81, 500 acres of improved land,
and $4,000 unimproved land, $4,000 cat
tie of all kinds, and about 1000 horses
BY adding one half to each item, for the in
crease of "a years, we shall certainly be
within the mark, and in consequence the i'm
proved land must now be $50, 900 acres but
for greater safety let us say 100000 acres as
basis.
Agreeable to Col Humphreys hypothe-
sis, 100 acres of land will maintain as many
sheep, and yet produce as much as it does
now " in the ordinary mode of cultivation
that issif rotation of crops is systemati-
cally pursued. "-such is the fertilizing qua
iity of sheep manure. Waving this point
let us suppose within years, $4,000 acres
of improved land in this county should be
devoted exclusively to sheep we shall find
by due investigation of the subject, that if
one Spanish ram can only be obtained for
each of our "a 7 owns--that SO choice ewes
of our country breed should go to each ram
next December, and that all their product
should be scrupulously devoted to breeders,
under the experimenting eye of intelligent
members of the Agricultural Society, (Which
it is hoped will pervade every part of the
country it will be found that in Syears we
shalt be blessed with $4,000 full blooded Me
rinos, in the place of our present stock of
home made sheep.
Col Humphrey also states that at Ram
bouillet, a government farm in France, al
though moist situation, the wool is found
equal to any in Spain, by means of the care
and attention of intelligent superintendants
and to prove the infinite Importance of this
attention and management, although the
f1ocks in Spain do not average to exceed
pounds of wool each in a year; yet at Ram
bouillet the rams produce from 10 to 10
pounds, and the ewes from to 6 pounds
each.
Now, if the members of the future Berk-
.h:rs Agricultural Snriety should hestow
half the necessary attention which has been
displayed at Rambouillet, we may safely pre-
sumo an average of pounds--and that
each pound is worth at least one dollar the
fair result will be an income of S25O,0O0per
annum for the whole county, to be partici-
to the measure; and if manufactured into
superhne broadcloths, by our own industry,
with the aid of Carding Machines, and Spin
ming JennyS, such are used In England,
it cannot fall short of half a million of dol
lars per annnm. This estimate, / am aware, I
will at first view appear visionary and san
guine; but / invite a cool and deliberate in
vestigation, and | trust the result will not be
materially different. In this estimate make
coll ntatiC IN Of he
INCREASING surplus stock, when we are fully
supplied ourselves.
Yorkshire is the largest, and by far the
richest country in England, although the
most mountainous and uneaven. Woollens
have been the great source OF their wealth
insomuch that the members of the House of
Lords have been seated on wool sacks for
ages past, as an emblem of the great wealth
and power of Old England. Indeed aitho'
they have never succeeded in raising fine
wool, and have been dependent on Spain for
a supply to mix with their own, yet the in
dustry of the inhabitants of Yorkshire has
supplied every part of the globe with WOOL
lens.
The Spinning Jennys and Carding Ma
chimes remove, in great measure, the OBJ
lection to the manufacture of the best super
fine broad cloths on account of the dearness
of labour in this country. The latter are
well known and IN general use /; ana we are
indebted to Mr. Scholfeld an ingenious & res
pectabie Yorkshire mechanic, now residing
in Pittsheld, for their introduction into A
merica. am also happy to learn his in
tention of introducing the Spinning Jeniiys
into use the present year. Thus, as the ma
nufacture of Cheese has evidently been over
done, and must decline; and having failed
also in attempts to improve the breed of
horses with an appearance of d long war
with England, which may be destructive to
her manufactories-evory thing combines to
render the moment suspicious Indeed it
becoms an imperious duty we owe ourselves
TO improve the breed of sheep, and extend
and improve our woollen manufactures
The farmer is sure, therefore, OF fndngia
market for his fine wool at his own door
since the increase of the mandatory OF fine
cloths will keep pace with the increase of
of his Merino flock. The Spinning JeBnys
viii cost from 40 10 ii &c dollars each. Il
is customary in Yorkshire for number of
neighbours to join and own one, which an
Swers for all: thus it will be in Berkshire if
we are true to our own interests, and an Ag-
ficultural Society should be formed by gen
tlemen of enlightened and liberal views
who would make poiDtto Danish the bane-
full spirit of party from ever entering the Me
rino flocks. In this case sure and solid