Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-08-17

THURSDAY, AUGUST II.
Mr.. CusTIs has favored us with the pro-
missed work Of BakezUeN on Wool, work
of much science and originality, and cal
culated TO throw very considerable light
upon this important and national subject.
So interesting to all true lovers of their
country. must our domestic concerns at
this time appear, that we feel peculiar
pleasure in being able to present our pa
irons with these important documents,
which at once display the resources OF o.
Their nations, and imperiously call tor An
exertion of our own.
Observations on the influence Of Soil and CE-
mate upon WOOL; from aOhich is dea;tc-
ed a certain and easy n'ethod Of imtroV-
inc the eaoiity Of English Clothing NsoAs,
and prescribing the health Of Sheep; with
hints far the management Of Sheep after
shearing: on enquiry into the structure,
grcroth, and formation Of zu0ol and hair 1;
and remarks ON the means by zohich the
Spanish breed Of Sheep may be made to
treserve.the best qualities Of its fleece an
changed in different climates.
BY ROBERT BAKEWELL.
Nth occasional Notes and Remarks, by tie
RIGHT HON. LORD soMERvILLE.
SOME of the most valuable discoveries
in the useful arts have been made by care
ful attention to few simple facts, which
were TOO common and obvious to excite GU
riosity, or attract general notice. We are
disposed by habit to overlook what passes
every day before cur t91es, and to seek in
remote causes for explanations OF various
phenomena, whenIa little patient ob:erva-
ton would convi,ee us, tina, the objects of
our inquiry are dmmediately within the COM
pass Of our yview. This deviation from
sinplicisy s6scures our researches, and tFe-
ouent.v siiiates our conduct in the more i'm
partaltt concerns of life: not only does it
retssd the application of known facts TO the
discovery Of useful truths, but 1t prevents
; the communication Of such discoveries when
once made, from the fear that they may be
thought too plain and simple TO deserve pub
lie notice.
IL NAV be necessary to premise these re-
marks, asian apology for directing the at
tention Of those who are desurous OF i'm
proving the quality of English Clothing
Woods, to a manner Of effecting It so easy,
that is NAV perhaps be deemed too uninl-
portaft To deserve trial. trust, however,
/ can make it appear, that 1t is possible,
with very little expence, and without any
change in the stock or pasture, to Increase
the value of many kinds OF fine wool from
twenty FIVE to thirty per cent. and at the
same time tosenlarge the fleece, and improve
the condition of the sheep.
Having been INTRODUCED into the wool bu
siness at an early periodsof my life, one OF
the first things which engaged my attention
was, the remarkable difference in the soft
ness of woods equally fine, but the produce
of different districts. The soft, silk-like
feel peculiar to some woo!s, was not then so
highly valued as at present. from causes
shall afterwards explain it gave however
decided preference in the market to woods
distinguished by this quality. A little at
tentioa to the wool from various districts,
soon discovered that the soils most favorable
to the production of this soft quality were,
first, the argillaceoss next, the siliceous
and it was well known that calcareous soils.
whether limestone or chalk, produce woods
of contrary quality, remarkable for their
harshness 10 the touch. Ia proportion as
the above earths preponderate in loose
state near the surface of different soils, their
effects on this quality of the wool may be
detected, whatever be the breed of sheep
L. L - Il l.