Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-06-18

AGRICULTURAL Rooms,
ALBANY, June l, 1886.
j. M. SHERWOOD, Esq, President Of the n. Y.
=. Agricultural Society:
DEAR SIR:-In my last stated that many
farmers "were in hot haste to change the char.
actcr Of their focks." Inquiries much extended
since that letter was written, show that the
change is going on quite as rapidly as had been
anticipated.
Allow me, therefore, to utter word of eau
ton on that subject. 1t is surely evident that
the manufacturers require varieties of wool for
their purpose fine as well as coarse, long sta
pied as well as short.
Absurd then it is for farmers to disregard this
fact, and rush hurriedly into the production of
only one kind Of wool. They must exercise a
wise foresight in determining what are likely to
be the future demands of the wool market, and
cautiously pursue a corresponding COURSE
Hasty and inconsiderate changes will work
evils both to the individual and the community
that cannot be rapidly or easily corrected. Men
who have been for years patiently and carefully
improving their focks, can at single blow dc.
stroy that which time, care and toll only can re.
store. But let them prudenty exhaust the
subject by investigation before taking an almost
irretrievable step.
find that the owner. Of the largest hocks are
mainly the growers Of fine wool any material
change in the character of these focks then will
seriously augment the quantity of medium WOO
in this market. But this description of WOO
already constitutes the bulk of the clip in mar
ket, and further augmentation will inevitably
be followed by a depreciation in price.
1t is stated by Mr.. Gay, and the money arti
Giles Of various newspapers, that the incoming
elm will exceed that of last year. These writers
differ widely in their estimates of the increase
somc placing it very low, others making it ex.
cessive. They all, however, agree that in con.
sequence Of the Increase there must be a reduc.
ton Of price. 1t is not my purpose to admit OF
DENY the truth of their statements. Whether
they are right or wrong | am quite convinced
from extensive inquiries, that there was no ex-
cess Of fine wool produced last year, nor is there
likely to be any excess this year.
The price Of wool last year was from eight ia
ten cents per pound less than the year previous
and was purchased at an average of about 80
cents per pound, yet clips of fine wool from
Ohio were sold rs high as 6S l-2 cents per ID.
and from actual inquiry find that numerous
clips from this State were sold at As, SO, 81 and
81 cents per pound; while it is we'll known tina,
thousands Of pounds of fine wool were imported
which cost the importer much more than the
highest price named.
Washington county, Pa, and the noighborinp
excellent character; yet the proprictors of these
Aocks had been in the habit of getting only 81
to 40 cents per pound. A manufacturer of grca,
eminence sent his wool sorter into that county
to become acquainted with the character of the
different clips, and last year, notwithsta nc
the depressed state of the market, this wool sold
for an enormous advance from the prices of pre
vious years, enhancing materially the price O
Pennsyluania sheep, and producing for then
suddenly an active demand. In these cases, i
is true, the condition Of the feeces and the quail
jty Of the wool was carefully attended to il
sorting had it been otherwise, the parties woul
have felt as severely and as unnecessarily tn
consequences Of glutted and deprecated maj
ket a. did their neighbors, who were less dis
Greet or less fortunate, as the case may be.
More than this, manufacturers are now say
ing that wool must again recede in price, moi
withdrawing which many Of them are maxim
INQUIRIES for fine wool from those very agent
whom they are instructing to buy at prices re
duced from last year.
There can be no doubt then that the marke
for tine wool IL not yet overstocked. ThOs
growers Of fine wool who have been led by Bit
ter experience To different conclusions, would d
well to inquire whether their losses are no
rather attributable to the mode in which thei
clips were sold, than To the market in whic
they were sold, and direct their efforts rather +
remsdying the palpaple absurdities of the woo
trade tnan TO ,rretrievaby destroying the char
actor Of their focks.
1t is certain that the price for medium woo
has been enhanced by the quiet submission q
the grower Of fine wool TO the dictation of III
wool Spectator. His object is to buy WOO
without regard to quality, as cheap as possibl,
and il he can bring fine and medium wool /
nearly the same standard, he is a gamer eve