The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-05-18

Il CllI)S oil wool. - ldTiICf approximate
TO it, but cannot arrive at it exactly, nor can
il be settled by even the examinations of the
micr oscOpe.
A lot OF grade wool, which if judged Of BY
specimen selected from the shoulder would
have been pronounced 10 be of the finest
quality, showed. on stapling, conclusively.
that the fleece OF the full blood sheep is by
far the best.
Nor can any one carry on, Understandings,
the breeding Of fine wooded sheep without
having their fleeces stapled. A lot of wool
was sold from the depot upon conditlun that
if the stapling would warrant it, an addition
would be made TO the price. Each lot was
sepei ately stapled, one supposed by the own
err, and by every Que else, TO be equal to the
best was found, on staplinG, unexpectedly TO
run into the lower numbers of the stapler's
scale, showing to the owner that he bad bred
in and in too much Every one knows that
this will affect the hardihood and constitution
Of the sheep, but who supposcs it would al
feet the curl and sofincss OF the fleece.
A farmer having very superior clip Of
wool, was induced last year 10 cross his ewes
with buck having heavy fleece. One was
procured valued as high as $50. But when
the animal was shorn and the fleece brought
10 the stapler, although the wool looked fine
aud soft, and WAS well washed. it was found
that large share of the eight pounds which
it weig he'd was animal oil or gum. lie has
received the information in time to prevent
serious calamity. Allowing him TO be per-
fectly correct in his plan, The animal in ques-
zion was not The proper one to be used.
Another farmers clip which was believed
10 be ds good any, proved on stapling to be
relatively far better than either he or those
who claim 10 be judges imagined.
This man will have 10 lake a wide range
III making an examinatio of bucks TO cross
with his fluck. He cannot use any of his
neiehbOrs' without eudangeTius the character
of his fleece.
We can now understand probably. how it
was that The celebrated focks of Ohio, which
were raised at SteubenvIle in that State.
were SO rapidly improved. The breeder was
4 manufacturer, and his staples made
him acquainted with the character OF the
fleece of every buck and eve he bred, and OF
every one he purchased. He could thus
breed intelligiby and make the precise cross
es required to give his wool that exquisite
character for fncuess and soltness which IL
ultimately obtained.
Much is said about the comparative value
of sheep with light and those with fine fleec-
es, without the subject being thoroughly un-
derstood by the advocates of either. | have
in my eye two clips, each OF which were well
washed and clean, and weighed not quite 3
ID lbs the fineness of each was nearly the
same, but the value of the one was several
cents per pound more than The other. The
one was close compact woul, free from
that animal oil and gum with which the 9TH
err abounded. The advocate therefore Of
sheep with heavy feeces must discriminate
between Aeeces which, though equally heavy
do not yield the same weight of available
W DOL TO the manufacture. To some extent
this may be Judged of by the hand and eve,
hut The securing liquor will tell the truth ex-
actly, and every breeder of sheep should be-
come acquainted with its effects upon the
fleece Of the bucks he intends useing in his
crusses.
| have seen statement OF the relative
shrinkage of several clips Of wool. all well
washed and IN good condition. Some shrunk
10 per cent. others only 80 l-3. The bucks
have alluded TO above would probably over
20 even 80 per cent. reducing his pounds oil
fleece TO IS pounds.
In a word, every shepard who would ACT
Understandings in SO important matter as
the Improvement ol wool, must call in the
aid Of that Information which has been de-
vclOped in this communication. ] find that
many breeders of fine wool have enormously
embraced the idea that the weight Of the
fleece can not be increased beyond lbs.
without i'll jury 10 the quality Of The DOL. II
the increase is to be produced merely in using
bucks with heavy leeces The position is inn
pregnabe; but il the increase is made By
careful breeding, so as TO give the roundness
and frmness 10 the form and closeness and
compactness TO the wool, then is the position
unsound.
can name Saxon flock Of the pueresi
blood. consisting of many hundred, compos
ed exclusively ofewes and the proper proper
ton of bucks, that shear more than three
pounds per sheep. Should the length Of sta
pie be increased, by the effect of climate or
breeding, this excellent flock will greatly ex-
coed their present large average. and this
without any deterioration ofits quality W hich
is now equal to any in the country.
| The Hon. Mr,Nicholas, Of Genesee, whose
long experience as wool grower entities his
opinions to respect, informed 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. I'M
der the full belief that he could increase the
quantity of wool without materially deteriO-
rating its character.
Mr.. Daniel Rodgers, Of Hoosic. also an
eminent wool grover, and one who justly
prides himselfupon the quality and condition
Of his wool. holds the same opinion, and has
procured sheep from the same place for the
like purpose.
Mr.. Morell, of Tompkins county, SO well
known for his excellent work on sheep, holds
the same opinion. l believe he goes so far
as 10 say that he can cross his Saxons with
selected merinOes, without detriment
There must he good deal Of difference in
the quantity OF wool sheared from different
focks, owing TO The keep Of The flock. DR.
Beekma'. offer ehearng, rejected forty ewes
from his very superior Saxon flock. twenty OF
these were picked out and bought by far
mer. who so yept them that he had but seven