Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-02-21
Agricultural.
From the Southern Cultiyator for January.

ed wool-grower, on the subject above named, which
abounds in interesting facts and suggestions 1t is
written in reply to remarks contained IN the Patent
Office report for l848 made by Mr.. Fleichmann and
Mr. Burke in which MIR. Cockrill successfully main
tains his position previously assumed, to the effect,
" that the United States are better wool -growing
country than any portion of Europe; that the lop
ATTITUDES have advantages the hig IA, and will
produce finer wool and also that fine wool is
grown 10 the United States as can be found in the
world"
1t will be admitted that this is taking bold stand
in opposition the generally received opinions on
the production of fine wool; and those who will re-
oce to see their beloved South possess another great
staple cannot but wish to have the facts and reason
ing which support this favorable view of sheephus
bandry in g the low ATTITUDES of the republic In
previous communication published in the Patent Of
| fee Report for 1913, Mr.. C. stated that he had
studied this question with diligence for IS years,
and believed he had come to a correct conclusion;
but the then Commissioner, Hon. E. Burke, decided
that Il was wrong and most decidedly mistaken in
this whole matter" To settle the question of the
relative fitness of the best specimens Of Saxony wool
brought into this country by MIR. Fleichmann him
self, and samples from his own flock and the focks
of others. in the only fair way to test WOOL Mr.. C.
had an accurate measurement made by MIR. Browne
of Philadelphia of Is samples and with the follow
ing results
Common American wool measures 500 piles to the
inch 500 fbres ofwool placed side by side make
an inch. Wool of Leicester sheep (England) 500:
|
ters American Saxony 1O41. Wool from the flock
| of Dambran improved by bucks from Prince Lich-
nowsky, imported by C. L. Fleichmann 1893 lambs
wool from the Duke of Leitchenow in the possession
Of the Hon. Robt R. Reed of Penn, 1893 wool from
buck Napoleon, valued at 81 500, and owned by M.
Heller of Chrezitz. whose flock is considered the
~ rival to those of Prince Lichnowsky, collected by
Mr.. Fleichmann for the United States Patent Office
in 1885, 1900 Wool from celebrated flock in
Hungary, also collected by Mr.. F., 1900. Wool from
Escerhazy. the same; buck of the Viceroy of Hun
gary, 1900; sample of wool from Silesia, 1877 spe
cimen from wool merchant of Dresden. 2lS6 from
the buck of S. Patterson Pennsylvania, the same
| from Robert Allen, Virginia, 1875; five specimens
from the flock of Mr. Robert R. Cockrill Tennessee,
1872 1875. 1875, 2l86, 2l86; STRAINS in speci-
men No. s. $500" Sample of eve of Col. Randall,
New York, 1875.
Other measurements g ven, but the ABOVE rep
resent the highest and the lowest 1t Will be seen
that the celebrated buck Napoleon," valued at
$780, has wool that only 1900 to the inch;
while sheep kept in New York, Pennsylvania,
and Tennessee yield wool from so to 100 per cent.
| finer, which can be purchased at $50 a head. From
these facts is evident that the finest wool be
grown in the United States without deterioration
far South as Tennessee and Mr. Cockrill believes
nearly to the Gulf Of Mexico.
| Wool is injured more by njudicious keep of sheep
in this country, than by climate, whether in the
| Northern Southern States. Sheep need to be
equally fed the year round; not have surfeit six
months, and suffer from short allowance the balance
of the year. This practice greatly impairs the
ness and value of the staple. All successful wool
growers both in Europe and the United States, pay
particular attention to this point
The fact that Mr. COckrill has brought up his
| flock to 2lS6, and even $500, which, far as is
known beats the world, shows the extreme care and
skill with which he both breeds and feedsit
| Mr.. c. is mistaken in supposing that Mr.. Browne
of Philadelphia is the first gentleman of science in
this country who has paid attention to the
ment of wool by a mcrometer and microscope. The
operation performed six years ago by Professor
Emmons of Albany and by the editor of this paper,
who imported his apparatus from Paris expressly for
the purpose, and to aid in the study of entomology
We should rejoice to see the suggestion of this enter
prsing Southern wool grower, to give Mr.. Browne
service of silver plate and suit of clothes from the
beautiful feeces of 2186 for his investigations in this
important product carried into effect. Hitherto men
who have devoted their time and means to the adj
vancement of agricultural science in the United
States, have generally worked without pay, and
known to most Ct their countrymen.
AS the accurate measurement of wool and testing
the comparative strength of each fibre (the last Mr.
Browne appears to have investigated) are opera
tions of general interest to all farmers, we hope to
give account of the processes, with illustrations
that shall render them Ineligible, in the present
volume of the Cultivator.
MIR. Cockrill says " There is traditional belief
entertained by the greater portion of the world that
sheep by nature belong to cold climate; and that
when removed from a cold to climate, the
wool will grow coarser and coarser. My observa-
ton and reflection this point have satisfied that
when the latitude is not below 80 deg. North, the
reverse of this tradition is true believe that the
improved Saxony sheep brought from the SHOWS of
Russia to Texas, will produce finer, evener and
E fuller fleece, than whilst in Russia. think that
the evidence is pretty conclusive that the Merno
sheep the natives of the Orange groves and fit
ted by nature for warm climates generally. Climate
is a law of nature and her laws are in harmony
The elephant lion camel. and the negro are Or
gained to bear with healthu influences the intense
and long continued heat of Africa, and the white
bear grows fat on the ice of the Arctic seas. can
with confidence say to the husbandmen of the cotton
district of the United States that they have nothing
to fear from climate | consider Texas an admira-
BILE location for wool growing; there is scarcity
of timber it is not well adapted to other agrcul-
tural pursuits The prairies productive in grass
, without the labor of man. The winters are mild,
open and warm, furnishing green food, with regu-
larry growing fleece throug hout the year population
is sparce and lands cheap requiring but small cap
ital to engage proftably in the business provided
instead of $1,000 each in Germany, recommended
by Mr.. Fleichmann"
Our first impression on visiting the Southern States
r was, that wool growing could not be profitable
= there the praries of Illinois, Wisconsin and
ty well acquainted The general appearance of thu
few sheep to be seen in the cotton growing States
impresses unfayorably. aud it is clear that mo
ney can no more be made by a neglected flock of
sheep than by volunteer crop of cotton. IF what
you get in wool costs nothing it is worth little
We have regarded the upper portion of Georgia as
presenting strong inducements for embarkng extern