Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-09-06
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The direct rays Of the sun II the tropical
regions, appear to contract many or the
pores whence the finer f5rcs Of wool issue,
10 enlarge others, thereby forming coarse
hairs and kemps. | once examined the coat
of aaam brought by relation of mine from
the banks of tie Mississippi: it was fne
soand healthy animal, but it produced no
Aeece it was thin'y covered with short
5 coarse hairs or ksmps, under which there
was slight appearances OF fine down o.
wool: this might probably have been en-
creased by proper management; nothing,
conceive, would have contributed more to
this effect, than keeping the surface of the
skin soft BY rubbing it frequently with olive
oil. The animal was given away soon alter
saw it, and had no opportunity OF learn
. ing The effect which change of climate might
produce.
II IS Doubt ssorklered by wise proyi-
sion Of the Aufllorof Nature, that the same
animals should Sc adapted to live in various
climates, BY the changes which different 81
tnations produce in their constitution and
tabits. Hence we fad that sheep, VII n
removed between the tropics. and greatly
neglected by man, will in course of time
,a,yest themselves of sheii useless and cum
hrous feeee, and be clothed in short coarse
shair.4 BY providing then with suitable
shelter, and By great attention, wool nj ght
consirsie to be grown near the equator; but
!. / believe its best qualities would be greatly
Injured, unless the iocks had the advantage
OF ranging ON very elevated mountains.
In the more temperate climate OF Buenos
Ayres, wool is'grown of the greatsstleng,h
OF staple I have ever SEEN; the hair was
very coarse, and had been much neglected,
as the fisecss were filed with the tops of a
soecies of thistle peculiar to that county.
Some of the Staples measured twenty inch
es. There was also in these sheep ten
tlency to produce a very soft short WOO! CO.
serea BY the coarser fleece. This short
wool had nearly the appearance OF rhe coars-
or kinds of the Vecuna wool. If we could
suppos. that the original breed Of sheep
were the same with thatswh | have no.
ticed from the banks of the Mississippi, we
should have striking instance of the effect
of soil and climate upon the fleece, when
removed from the fostering care OF man.
The effect Of Egis and air on the iurs OF
many animals, is well known, and it has
been remarked, that men who work out Of
doors, with their heads uncovered, have
; hard, coarse hair. This may be caused BY
desicca,ion, or by the absorption OF oxygen
in greater quantity through the pores ao
the skin. Every circumstance of this kind
if afforded to, might lead us to remark the
: care which is requisite TO cultivate the, bes
qualities of the wool or fur, en- the coats o
those animals which are applied to the use
of man. What Improvements these may
admit of, we cannot conjecture, as it is on
: lyupon sheep that experiments OF this kint
have yet been made. If we suppose tina
the goat, the cat, and the rabbit OF Angora
were not originally distinct varieties of thei
species, it would be an object of much i'm
portance, as we'll as Of considerable curiosi
", TO ascertain the circumstances of soil
of climate, and Of treatment, which CAV,
- TO these animals long coat of such peculia
softness. 1t seems still uncertain, whe,he
the shawls of Persia and OF India are fabri
Gated from the produce of the goat or tn
sheep. An expedition to obtain some o
atlsse animals, would offer richer prize L
cur manufacturers, than the acquisition Q