The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-03-06

"
so thick as the Pauar or Negretti; nor were
their skins so loose as the Negretti and Agu-
eirrds, nor had they so much wool on the face
and legs. The Montaoco bore a considerable
resemblance to the Escurials. The Escural
flock had formerly belonged to tue crown, but
when Philip the Cd built the Escurial Palace,
he gave them to the Friars, whom he placed
in convent that was attached to the palace,
as source of revenue. These four fccks
were moderately gummed. The Guadaloupe
flock was rather larger in the bone than the
two preceding, about the same height, but not
quite so handsomely formed, their wool was
thick and crimped, their skins loose and doub-
ling, their faces and legs not materially differ
ent from the two latter focks, but in general
they were more gummed than either of the
other f1ocks. In point of fneness there was
very little difference between these six focks
and, as | have been told bv well informed
persons, there is very little difference in this
respect among the Leonesa trashumanies in
general. The Escurial, the Montarcos and
the Guadaloupes were not in general so hea-
Wy horned as the other three 1Ocks, and about
one in SIX of the bucks were without horns,
or what is commonly called polled buck
| had selected by the Paular shepherds, who
came with that flock, three hundred sheep
which shipped to Newburyport. The half
of these were Paulars, fourth Agueirras, IAN
eighth Escurlals and the other eight Montar-
cos and Negrettis. These put on the farm
in Weathersfield, VT, that bought after my
return TO the United States, and also drove up
about hundred, the remainder Of those had
shipped to Boston. In compliance with the
invariablc practice in Spain, | bred the re-
spective flocks separately, or what in farmers
language is called in and in; the custom in
Spain having existed from time immemorial
of breeding the bucks and ewes of the same
cabanna or flock together, or i'll and in, but in
about 1916 or SI7 mixed the different flOcks
together, and have so bred my merinos ever
since. About ten years ago found sOme2O
or so samples of the Paular flock that was
sent me from Spain to Lisbon, and by clipp-
ing from my sheep about as many samples,
just as they came to hand, was satisfied that
my flock had improved; and some ten or -
wool growers who compared the two, were
of the same opinion. Whether this was ow-
ing TO mixing the several iiocks together or to
a very close attention TO the selection of my
bucks | cannot say, but the fact unquestiona-
bly, is so. | well know, as you say, that many
have been latterly running about the country
putting up their sheep as full blood Paulars,
which name has doubtless been adopted be-
cause it is generally understood that the Pau
las flock carried the heaviest fieeces, but with
the exception of or 10 pure blood merino
ewes which have sold within three or four
years, and about fifty pure blood merino bucks
within about five years, j do not know nor do
L believe that there is pure blood merino IN
the United States, besides those which | own.
The reason for this opinion is, that from 1923
to 1886 the rage of Saxony sheep was so great
that few or none of our wool growers would
breed from merino bucks who could get Sax
ony; and after the large importation of Sax
ony in 1925 and 1926, the Saxonies, or their
crosses, were within the reach of almost eve
ry breeder. From 1888, as the different pri-
ces of wool we're in no fair proportion to the
difference of its quality, the light wool Sax
ony fleeces got daily more and moro out of
repute until we are finally getting into the
opposite extreme, and are giving up the fine,
soft, feeling woods for the coarser and harsher
and heaviest fleeces. This is a great error,
because fine woods must always be in demand
for ur superfine broadcloths and cassimeres,
and with a proper selection Of bucks and
ewes, feeces averaging three pounds weight
may be as easily grown of fine, soft, silky
wool, possessing the telling property in the
greatest degree, as can be from sheep which
Weld only two pounds and quarter or two
pounds and half fleece. In 1910 very
Intelligent London wOol-b broker, who was sent
to Lisbon for the purchase of wool for sever
al English manufacturing establishments,
which was principally sent there for sale, du-
ring that year, in consequence of the French
being in possession of the north Of Spain,
Informed me that the Leonesa wool possessed
the telling property in a greater degree than
the Saxony, and that it was generally used in
England for the manufacture of superiine
cloths in preference to the Saxony. Since
that time the Saxony doubtless has been very
much improved and may have attained to c.
quail perfection in this respect. | think there
is general error prevailing in our country in
regard to wool. Light feeces and fine wool
are almost universally considered as synony-
nous. A k.of sheep that will yield three
pounds of wool by being evenly fed, summer
and winter, and kept in fair stock case, by be-
ing half starved both summer and winter, may
be reduced to two pounds Now no one who
knows any thing about wool WILL undertake to
contend that this half starved and sickly
growth of wool will make as strong and dura-
bic a cloth as will healthy growth of wool
from the same sheep; nor will the cloth made
from the starveling wool handle SO seft and
well as that made from the healthy WOOL
Sheep, too, which have been well pastured 10
summer and half starved in winter, which is
no uncommon case, by keeping more stock
than our winter fodder will maintain, will have
a very unequal growth of wool; the summer
growth will be strong and flexible while the
winter growth, though a shade finer in the
t fibre, will be dry and tender and such wool
will not make cloth which is strong and soft
to the touch. The Saxon manufacturers I'M
derstand this principle well and select accor-
dinghy and hence make more durable cloths
than the English; and they handle as well,
notwithstanding the superior finish of the En-
glish Yet we hear our wool-buyers crying
out, fine wool sir! two pound and quarter,
: two pound and half, which seems to be their
principal standard for fine wool and according
J TO this standard the wool Of a flock of sickly
!, starveings, as brittle as roiton straw, would
be the acme Of perfection.
think have now answered all your ques-
TONS and if have trespassed too far upon
your patience, / hope to find an apology in
the solicitude which YOU evinced to obtain full