The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-27

pie of the old world, are In the wine-growing
countries Of Southern Europe, where the article,
like water is placed on every table, free of cost,
but an extra charge made for coffee, and a very
exhorbiant one for tea. They scarcely ever in
dulge in it to excess, while in Northern Russia,
where ardent spirits are used as substitutes for
wines, intoxication is the prevailing vice.
am now about TO say few words on very
important branch of husbandry, of peculiar in
terest to the American farmer. aude to the
growth of wool, an article which in no small de-
gree affects our foreign and domestic exchanges.
So far as experience has demonstrated, large
portions of our country are admirably adapted
to the growth Of wool. In the production ofno
other article has there been so great an improve.
ment in quantity and quality. Our early at.
tempts at wool growing We're almost exclusively
confined to the inferior breeds of sheep, and the
coarser qualities of wool. under the prevalent
impression that the Saxon, Merino, South. downs
and all other finer qualities, could not be raised
in this country. Recent experiments, however,
90 far to show that the finer qualities of wool
can be produced in this country, ny similar care
and attention TO the breed and culture of sheep,
as well as in any part Of Europe, and to an ex
tent far beyond our present demand. The hills
Of New England, New York and Pennsylvania
have been shown to be well adapted to the rails
ing Of sheep and it can hardly be doubted that
the mountains Of Virginia, North Carolina and
other Southern States, are equally favorable to
the same culture. Wool and sheep growing are
also becoming an important branch of industry
on the Western prairies, and it is highly proba-
BILE that the regions best adapted to them, will
vet be found between the Mississippi and the
Pacific, in the valleys and upon the great plains,
on both sides Of the Rocky Mountains. Those
regions are particularly adapted to grazing
They are for tho most part elevated, dry and
healthy, Astounding in rich grasses and pure wa
ter. The extent of country to which refer,
embrace an area more than twice that OF the ORR
cinal thirteen States of the Union, and is des-
tined to be occupied by an intelligent, industri-
GUS and energe,c race Of men, not inferior in
any respect to those who inhabit the old States.
Nature has designed it for the habtation of an
agricultural people, and grazing must be their
predominant pursuit.
In the early stages of the woollen manufac-
lures of Europe, the finer qualities of wool were
almost exclusively supplied by Spain, and the
belief existed there, as it did here, that no other
country could supply the same quality. The
Northern cline, it was thought, would impair
the fineness of the staple. But the merino sheep
introduced into England soon dispelled that pre-.
iudice and their introduction, at the beginning OF
the present century, into Saxony and Sesia, es-
tablished the fact that proper and cultivation
will do more in this branch Of husbandry than
mere climate or other favorable adventurous cir.
cumstances The Saxon merino, for the pur-
pose Of wool-growing, is now far superior to
the Spanish, and its wool brings much higher
price in the principal markets of England, France
and Belgium. Indeed the finer qualities of
wool are now almost exclusively supplied by
Germany, while Spanish merino wool has al
most entirely disappeared from the wool mar.
kets of Europe.
The history of wool growing and sheep cul-
ture 10 Europe is full of valuable lessons to
the American farmer. 1t shows what know
ledge, diligence and care can accomplish against
adverse climates and indifferent soils. The les
son is full Of encouragement to Us, and has,
already stimulated the emulation of our hus-
bandmen If | can read the future Of this
country, wool, in very few years, will become
as much an article of expectation, as cotton,
provisions and bread-stuff, and this notwith-
standing the powerful rivalry which our wool
growers on the Pacific will find in the progress
of wool growing in Australia.
There is one more species Of industry, lately
come into use as an incident TO agriculture,
which deem of sufficient importance to recon-
mend to the attention of your society. 1t is the
manufacture Of oil and candles from the fat OF
hog, known in the vocabulary of the West
as the prairie whale" The progress Of man
ufacture OF these articles is Western dis
covery, and is leading to important results in
the agriculture and commerce ofour country.
The uses to which lard oil may be applied
are almost infinite. II was first employed as a
substitute foe lamp oil and sperm candles but
was gradually made 10 take the place Of almost
every species Of animal fat, or vegetable oil;
employed in manufactures, and now most ex.
tensiyely used in all kinds of machinery. 1t is
also introduced to n very lar extent, in many
branches Of domestic economy, and when refined
AMI properly perpared, is used even in the shape
Of condiment Of the table, or an indispensable
article Of the toilette. Lard oil, it is said, is
largely exported TO France, and after undergoing
various chemical operations, re-imported into the
United States, and sold in various metamor.
phoses, as salad. oil, pomatun, or bears grease.
know not whether ! am permitted 10 press
these considerations for the purpose Of stimu-
ating competition (; but feel quite certain that
even the ingenuity Of European chemists will.
in due time, find its match IN the Indigenous
" Yankee ingenuity" Of the United States.
Meanwhile am glad 10 ser the lard oil MANI.
ieCeoiito hebitcuf haNthk ho 1PPiththSsoh hhss
they will ever seriously interfere with the whale
fisheries Of New England, the great school Of
our sailors, and The great nursery Of our navy.
On the contrary, Il appears that sperm oil, not.
witbstanding the competition of lard, is still
commanding respectable and remunerating
prices it, superior qualities and the valuable
uses 10 which Il may be applied, operating quite
as much in It's favor, rs tn diminished number
Of whales, WHICH compels our hardy fishermen
TO seek for them In higher and more dangerous
attitudes
] would say few words on the growth Of
timber, subject much neglected by our eoun.
trymen Yet timber Is one Of the most valua.
bic productions Of the soil, and mn indispensable
requisite TO the Improvement and civilization Of
man. No country on earth Is, in this respect
more blessed than ours. None can boast Of
such variety of forest trees, adapted 10 the
various uses of farming. the mechanic arts, mr..
chitecture and ship-building. In no other coun-
try do we find such magnificent shade trees,
such extensive and superb prmeyal forests, and