The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-29

shs.p--wool ssd Wool Depots.

ny II. BLANCHARD, COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW yoaK
Sin; circular from your Office has recently beor
handed 70 me by DR.. J. P. Beekman, Of this town
in which sundry questions propounded on the
subject OF sheep husbandry, with request from
him that should prepare some statements with
reference To the subject, but more particularly in
relation to the question, "Have you wool depots
and are they found advantageous for wool grower
and manufacturer"
lst "What the prevaiiing races."-Eaoh of the
different varieties OF sheep grown in the United
States may be found in the State of New York
DOL growers located in the vicinity OF our large
cities and towns, who have heretofore bred fine
saxony sheep, have, to great extent, within the
past 1ye years, changed their hocks for large
valuable Tor mutton; and they derive greater pro.
mt from the Leicester, Southdown, and Cotswold
sheep, and their crosses with the native and other
breeds, by the sale Of mutton and wool, than from
the sale OF wool alone from the finer grades Ut Sax
ony and Merino. Yet, the most enterprising WOOL
growers in this State breeding the Saxony and
Merino sheep, and many are crossing the two va
rieties, which cross gives the grower fleece weigh
ing from three to three and half pounds Of wool.
With the foregoing exceptions, Merinos and their
grades are the prevailing races.
I'd. "Uhat the ACREAGE ioeigM Of fleece Of different
races. "-The average weight Of fleece Of large
locks Of the full blood Saxony breed Is about two
and half pounds of the full blood Spanish Merino
four pounds; of the Of Saxony and Merino
three and n quarter pounds; of the grades of the
McrIno and native cross three pounds; and of the
Hartford, Connecticut, has recently imported va
riety OF Mcrinos from France, which large,
well formed sheep, and from which tiocks may be
reared producing tleeces weighing seven pounds of
medium quality Of wool washed on the back. have
seen one fleece, sixteen month"; growth, which
tanned fourteen pounds Of wool, well washed before
shcaring. Messrs. Smith and Catlin, of Ltchfield
county, Connecticut, have, within the last year, inn
ported race OF Saxony sheep, which, judging from
the specimens have seen, will yield larger heeces
OF superior quality of wool than most of the for
mer importatons introduced into this State-yied-
ing three pounds per fleece in the ordinary mode
Of washing
81. "Iphat the cost Of keeping sheep through the
year per head. Assuming the fact, which is ver-
he'd by our most enterprisng agricuturists, that
the keeping Of sheep upon grain growing lands
greatly increases the fertility of the soil, It may
safely be estimated that 20 sheep may be kept upon
100 acres Of cultivated grain lands without dimin
ishing the grain crops, but, on the contrary, in
crcaslug them. Various estimates have been made
OF the cost OF keeping sheep in this satemuch de-
pending upon the price Of hay aside from its value,
for feeding the farm for increasing manure,
and the value of lands adapted to pasturage. From
~ to per cent. OF the weight of sheep per day
will be found sufficient through the fodderng
son.
4th. "What the condition Of this branch Of indus
hy.o-The condition of this branch Of industry ia
not improving rapidly in this State in the
western middle States Large numbers of
sheep annually driven from this State to sup
ply the demand from the West. The high prices
of butter and cheese for tho past v. years, have led
to substituting the dairy for sheep husbandry in
many districts; and yet, since 1910, there has been
an increase in the production of wool The clip in
1910 was, according TO the statistics accompanying
the census, 9S45,245 pounds; in lsi5, y, s64 ,s25
pounds. Estimating the last mentioned quantity
at 20 cents per pound and which s believed to be
fair one, it amounts to S4,7l2,6S9; and when
there s added to this the salcs of sheep and lambs
for mutton, the annual value Of this branch of agri
cultural industry assumes importance worthy
OF attention Every thing calculated to foster and
sustain this interest in the hands OF the farmer
should be carefully considered Ii is of the utmost
importance that ne should be informed Of every
improvement that is being made, by which he shall
be secured the full value of his wool Hence il Is
not only necessary for him TO investigate principles
relating to the breeding OF sheep lin order that he
may be successful in producing that kind which is
most proftable,) but what is equally important
for him, so to investigate the present system of the
wool trade to enable him to determine whether
bis succcss-is not equally dependent upon change
IN that system, as upon improvements in his flock
shall confne myself chiefly to the necessity for
such change, and the remedy proposed by estab
fishing wool depots; and only allude to such facts
IN breeding and keeping sheep appear TO be ne
cesssry TO rightly understand this branch of the
subject.
Much discussion has been had TO show which
most profitable; whether Ssxony, a cross of Merino
and Saxony, Msrinos or coarse wooded
sheep, whose carcasses suitable for mutton The
success attendant upon the grow tn of each kind APP
pears TO have depended upon the skill and manage
Incn OF the grower, and the facilities enjoyed for
the sale OF the wool carcass Those residing
cities or large villages, possessing easy facilities
Tor reaching those places, may find large-framed,
coarse wooded sheep, 10 limited extent profitable
but such Is not the fact in regard to the great mass
Of wool growers in the United States. The profits
arising from their 1ocks must result from the wool,
from the sale Of sheep made valuable, by the skill
OF the breeder, for their superior fleece.
Where the facilities for selling have been such
that the intrinsic value of the fine fleece could be
nj pot ha linz fnai ~
slying that the profits arising from the growth of
hne wool have been greater than the lower grades
but where these facilities for ceiling have not been
enjoyed, the profits have been in favor Of the grower
Of medium and low qualities. As proof of this,
reference may be had 20 the Of the fine wool
growers in those sections of the osentry where, by
reason OF their superior clips 2nd large hocks,
great inducements were held ~ TO fine wool pur-
chasers to visit them for the pposo of buying; and
thus a competition was created which resulted in
fair prices; while in other sections where equally
as iinc wool was produced, but in less quantities,
or where the low, medium, and high grades were
grown promiscuously, those producing the fine
qualities have been under the necessity Of selling
their fine wool at or 3, or at most cents only,
above the price paid for the common or low grades;
and that too, when thesuperor condition Of the fine
fleece alone, independent Of lie quality would make
that difference; thus sustaining n loss Of all their
skill care, and expense in breeding fine instead Of
common or medium wool
5h. " Uhere your markets - Until the com
mencement Of the year 1916, no general system for
the selling Of wool had been adopted in his coun
try. Some vool-growers carried their clips direct
ly 10 the door OF the manufacturer and accepted
the price which was there offered; others awaited
the arrival Of the manufacturer his agent, 10 ne
gOtiate sales at their own doors; some depended on
the country merchant az purchaser, who bought
20 sell again; others upon the wool dealer spccu
lator, who would buy, " the margin in the price
promised good profit; some forwarded their wool
90 the large cities 20 be cold at commission houses
The wool thus found its way TO tho loft OF the
uiacturer through variety Of channels, with one
or more intervening profits after leaving the hands
OF the grower. Al meeting of the New York
State Agricultural Society, held at Poughkeepsie,
IN the fall OF lsii, the inequality Of prices obtained
by the diversified modes of selling wool. induced
DIR. John +. Beckman, then President Of the SoCie-
W, and other leading agricuurists Of the State,
being Themselves extensive wool growers, TO devise
the plan Of selling their clips through the medium
Of a wool depot.
Ono Of the prominent causes of the success Of tho
European n uufacturcr of woollcn fabrics may be
found in thci caFy access 20 wool dealers and sta
piers where nice discrimination IL made ia class
lying the various styles and qualities of WOOL which
enables them 90 select that which is exactly suita-
bic for ne goods they wish 10 produce. The prin-
ciplcs involved in this syslcm not new, il being
conducted upon those Of a commission business; bot
n IL only hc dctafla and anpication Of these prncs