Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-06-27
WOOLrGROWING.

WOOL-GROW WING.
As we have heretofore treated upon the i'm.
portant subject of converting many of our Virgil
MIA lands into profitable use, by the farmers turn.
ing their attention to wool growing; we take great
pleasure in laying before cur readers such inior.
mstion as may enable them to embark in an en-.
terprize so well calculated TO promote the interest
OF the whole country.
Although the writer Of the subjoined article
docs not name Virginia, rs among the Southern
States so well calculated to successful WOO. grow.
ing, yet IT cannot be denied that she possesses rs
many, IT not more, advantages in that particular
than almost any other State North or South of
The Potomac. What did we prove on this point.
a short time since, by referring to the observations
of an experienced wool.grower, who had travel.
led from Maine to Georgia. We thought We had
shown clearly, that some portions Of Virginia con.
not be excelled IN facilities for sheep. raising.
This branch Of agriculture is now beginning 10
attract the attention Of Farmers all through the
South, and we are determined that, so far MS We
ars concerned, It shall elso deserve the notice Of
Agriculturalists in this State. Now that we see
and hear of Manufactures s~pringing up i'm every
part of the S,ate-and, indeed, almost every mart
OF other Southern States, it behooves all who take
an interest IN the prosperity of such enterprises,
to be unceasing in their efforts TO give strength
and encouragement to them. Let US, then, get to
'sE''6 aC ia" ia W u luTnlsn The
industrious machinery and workmen with that
which can be so readily converted into profitable
fabrics. ..F
We ask for the following a perusal. Ii will be
seen in the article referred to,at what little expense
the waste aud mountainous lands OF this old Com.
monwealth can be brought into active and most
beneficial service.
SHEEP n SHEEP-wALKS IN THE SOUTH.
To ne Editors Of the Tennessee State dErieuliurahs,.
- In. p-raant .o.-.lt l.
growing interest, men OF every class and of every syoca-
ZION are anxiously engaged in devising a remedy eommep.
suraie with the evil. And while many ingenious theoti.,
have been advanced, from quarters entitled TO the hiches,
consideration, tending to enligh,en tho planters of The
South upon the best mode Of disenthrallment the propric.
y OF converting the mountain regions aud boundless
ranges, which strike the eye OF the traveller on every aide,
from the Aleghanies to the Gulf of Mexico, into pastu.
rage and walks for sheep. has not been sufi ciently urged.
Al almost every point, there are extensive tracts clothed
nine months OF the year with the richest yerdure. uuon
winch millions OF sheep might subsist with comparatively
little trouble and expense. IL IS the opinion Ut iudlc,ous
men, that where seventy head of cattle may be raised 10
advantage, seven hundred sheep. instead, may do eauall,
wei. Win tat number, 1t each fleece of tho good breed
q ~ofta one dollar aud twenty cent, as has been es,imate4,
4 neal mite income nigh, be realized whore nothing /.
made under the present management Of farms.
hr. SKINNER who has long enjoyed Inc re putaion Of be.
log among TIC iifsi Of the practical SsTeutunsts, no, only ol
ms country, but OF the age, somewhere recently remarks,
he mountain wsstes Of Nors Carolina and Georgia s and he
might, With equal ~prcpricty have added the similar regions
~ h"S-hhe ao 'AisSiSspp. vi pDfuOl W the Northern
lEd Eastern States, nor the pTaries Of the famed West. 10
which thousands Of sheep are now being driven, can compare
in natural elegance with these ranges. lG nigh attitudes,
experience has clearly demons,a tcd, that both the fleece
and constitution OF the Saxon md Menno breeds d-gene.
rate, unless ample protection is afforded from the risors Of
the climate; and from the confinement incident 10 this man.
agemoni, originates the fatal rot, whica, connected with
the necessity vi PrOyinde. through their long winters
dnd late springs, MAKES the growth OF the faer lesces.
above Mason & Dxon's line, al Improbable business.
Tho same remark. may be made, though TO a more
Imlteu extent. Ot the Treatment re0ufcafe ~ h Rrnf-x. a
Ie West; while in the South, in unexposed situation, and
over large tracts Of county, the hills and valleys are yer.
dant with grass, pea vines OF salaeious herbs, throughout
the year-no confinement, no she.i.nng, no feeding being
necessary, beyond attention TO ewes and lambs. Besides,
grtss In Tho South even in less favored sections than above
described, comes much earlier IN the spring than with
ihem-Is equally tender, nutritious and plentiful in summer,
and remains free from frost much later In autumn. Should
winter feeding bo deemed essential, we have an article
which they have mol, in cotton seed, upon which they vii!
40, only subsisi, bot which, IL has been said, will improve
he fleece better than any other known food. The expense
hen, might be briefly summed up, after the original invest.
ment' tils: a shepherd. a few well trained dogs, plentiful
sailing, sIearing, and attention during certain seasons 10
ewes and lambs. Dr.. Martin, OF Kentucky, thinks one
~snsphord and a dog suiicIen, to herd and attend a flock Of
;TO thousand sheep IN the mountains.
The opinion has been p.uyela1i, that warm climate,
sfiect inJunously the quality aud quantity Of the fleece.
TnIs - based upon the idea that the heavy dews Of the
nlghi and The burning sun Of the day, absorb the yOlk. Al.
though II may be true TO the plains, II cannot be applied
10 the moHntaiHs and woodlands. As far back as tic
history Of the sheep can be traced, he is a wundeter
IN the WHO'S 81 hileai or roaming tue hills Of Span,
lialSand Asia Minor; and the crossing ri a white ram.
iusi from his native desert, with the black ewes Of Suain'
IN the time OF the Emperor Ci'udius, aad these again with
i1e Iafentine breed. IRE the first Improvements Of which
any accounts remain from the ancients. Spain, from ib,t
10 the present time has been celebrated FOR It's fge lseees
the herino, and its descendant the Saxon. taking prsre-
dcnce IN every marset ia the world, when delicate textures
were wanted in cloths.
In New South Wales too-almos, under the Eou,tor il,
sell. sheep have tbIiyen beyond all former example. In
100, a sInh'he was carried there BY way Of experiment.
Eleven yef 70 afterwards, two hundred aud fort. five pounIs
OF wool were %eHportod; but 10 tho meantime, the Mehno
having been Introduced Hoeks 80 augmented, that in 1880.
Two millions " lbs within q fraction, found a foreign mar.
kei, which again IN 1889 swellod to the enormous smoun,
OF twenty one millions. And what is no less astonishing.
In the city Of London. not long since, the beef Australian
commanded next TO tho finest Saxon, tho finest price
surprising, 10 that respect, tho famous Spanish L,eonos. nj,
any Of the famous breeds Of England.
II these views be correct II Is evident that the arrelli.
eious soiI-lwhich tho celebated Bakewell maintained gave
q peculiar s0ftness and elasticity to the heocel-,ho genial
climate, aud the abundant grasses Of the South, are adapt.
ed TO the productions Of the iDcsi varieties Of sheep. An.
therefore, that ~ wanting 10 make this favored region AZ
grestin NE growth OF wool. asst has been Ia cotton IL in a
widely diidsed spirit OF enterprise among its citizens
Tho advantages n wool over cotton ought no, 10 be owe.
looked. The prices Of wool In the markets Of the world
arc more steady aud uniform than those Of cotton. and
sa'es equally ceTt1in-iis production is more pleasant-its
yield upon o like investment would be nearly double.
and II may be made the medium, not Of exhaustion. boi
. eountiul ieruiiy to the soil. Even at tho low price
OF twenty cents fer pound, TO which 1t may DO reduced by
an increased ptoduedvn, 1t r a,least twice as profitable a.
cotton Of six cents.
Bot where asks an enquirer, IL the marko, for wooly
Inc answer 10, that this county imports large duantties
OF wooi-Fgnco imPUrts rs much-Ru,sia and he Netbc,-
lands SCARCELY less--and Great Britain with thirty tvo
millions Of sheep, averaging four pounds 10 the shesrinv.
imports annually hiv millions Of pounds-has a hundred
millions Of dollars invested in lis manufacture. md ~.
gives employment TO hSlf a million Of persons.
q. ID. ~sHoRTRIDGE.
HollybrOOk, Ala Feb. 90 1886.
RICHMOND.