Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-06-17

The Hon. Mr.. Nicholas, of Genesee,
whose long experience as a wool grow
er entities his opinions to respect, in
formed me that after enquiries made
among manufacturers and others, he had
altered his opinion on this point. He
has, at considerable expense, brought
sheep from Washington county, Pa. for
the purpose of crossing with his flock,
under the full belief that he could in
crease the quantity Of wool without ma
terialy deterorating its character.
Mr.. Daniel Rogers of Hoosic, also an
eminent wool-grower, and one who just
ly prides himself upon the quality and
condition of his wool, holds the same
opinion, and has procured sheep from
the same place for the like purpose.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Tomkins county, so
well known for his excellent work on
sheep, holds the same opinion. l be-
lieve he goes so far as to say that he
can cross his Saxons with selected me-
rinoes, without detriment.
There must be good deal of differ
ence in the quantity of wool sheared
from different flocks, owing TO the keep
of the flock. DR.. Beeman, after shear
ing, rejected forty ewes from his very
superior Saxon flock, twenty of these
were picked out and bought by farm
er, who so kept them that he had but
seven lambs, and did not shear two
pounds of wool from each each eve.
The refused twenty were purchased by
another neigbbor and SO kept that he
raised twenty lambs from his twenty
ewes and sheared over four pounds of
wool from each.
The late lamented H. D. Grove COM
municated to me before his death,
statement which tallies precisely with the
above his belief was that high feeding,
in one or two generations, would COM
pletely chnnge the character Of the ami
NAL.
One statement more, and I will finish
this too protracted discussion. have
stated freely and frankly those facts
which my enquiries elected, and which
tend materially to encourage the grower
of fine wool. | have done so because
truth required it at my hands. But
must also state that the stapler has point
ed out description of wool which is
sure to be much in request, and which l
must own appears to me to promise quite
as much profit as a short staple wool.
1t is fine soft wool of long staple, suit
ed to the manufacture Of warps, shawls,
and the finer descriptions of fannels; it
is also used for filings, after having been
sliced by machinery, and thus convert
ed into short staple wool. Some manu-
facturers say it answers their purpose
well, but the better opinion is, that for
superior cloth there is no substitute for
short staple wool. Large and heavy
fleeces Of this kind can be produced, but
they must not be confounded with heavy
wool that shrinks in the securing liquor
fifty per cent. while the wool named
shrnks only thrty-three per cent.
The specimens have seen of the wool
from Lord Weston's flock, recently i'm
ported by Mr.. Jewett, of Vermont,
would seem to answer admirably for that
purpose.
Combing is also much in request, and
the great increase of machinery employ
ed for this purpose leaves no doubt that
this kind of wool will be largely in de-
mand. The wool that is required by
the mousin de laine manufacturers re-
quires staple of at least three inches
in length. In fneness it wants to be
between the Leicester and merino.--
Those conversant with this wool say
that probably cross between the Lei
cester and merino would furnish exactly
the article. 1t, however, must have
great strength Of staple, as we'll as length,
or it will not answer. Those whose
situation justifies the breeding of mutton
sheep would do well to look into this
matter.
Yours, respectfully,