The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-08-16
wool-Growing in Virginia.

We have several times called the a'ten-
ton of our readers to this subject, which Is
daily and hourly growing in importance
We shall always confine ourselves 10 1acts'
rather than embark upon the wide sea OF
speculations suggested by the important bear
ing of this matter upon the highest and most
permanent interests of our State. 1t has long
been the desire of cur planters and farmers
to find out some staple in the growth OF when
they could with more safety and certainty OF
adequate returns invest their capital ana Ia
Dor, than in the present chief products OF
Virginia Wheat, corn and tobacco nave
hitherto almost literally absorbed the ener-
eies of the whole agricultural interest. Now,
it is a well known fact, that these crops are
precarious One year the planter may reap
from his tobacco grounds rich reward ana
the next be almost driven to desperation by
the partial or entire failure of his crop. so
it is with wheat, especially Of late years,
since the ravages of the joint worm have be-
come so universal and so pernicious. As for
corn, it is certainly more reliable crop than
either of the others, but its uses are so few
and confined within such narrow limits, that
it can never serve as th9chief staple of a
great State in the markets of the world. A
State that can raise no other article will lind
itself deprived of sufficient agricultural
basis for the financial and domestic wants OF
her citizens. There will be a constant, slow,
but certain depreciation in both the market
and intrinsic value of her lands, and her peo-
pie will become gradually impoverished. NO
State should rely upon a single production, or
rest its prosperity upon a few staples winch
my at any hour be cut off by bad season.
or the ravages of insects.
We are far from recommending the apah-
donment of any one of our present staples,
They may be- and generally are cuitisa'eu
with success But we would like to impress
mon our citizens. the importance OF dlVldihg
their energies among greater variety OF
nroduct;ons We cannot choose cotton or
sugar Our climate forbids it. Alter LOOKING
with a good deal of care at 1ac's' ironi ii'S'liy
reliable sources, we conclude that wooi-gro"-
inc ia the true and proper subject for the con-
s;dero+;o, of our farmers at the present time.
The climate and soil are already proved by
sound experience to be most admirably
.d.nted TO the purpose. Of course, we have
vet much to learn and to observe, before we
can fully carry out general system of sheep
raising, to the greatest profit. There must be
failures, at first, in every thing where SO much
depends upon experiment. 1t is probable
that mistakes have been, and will be made,
both in the selection of the proper breed of
sheep, and in their management.
The first question to be settled is, whether
our climate and soil are well suited to the
growth of wool? and this we consider as es
tablished. The next point will be, to ascer
tain what varieties of wool are most in de-
mand in our markets. We may be able TO
produce every variety, but, perhaps, not all
prottably.
Now, beyond question, the Merino wool, of
the various grades, is the article wanted, and
will yield the richest return to the producer
1t comes less in competition than any other
with articles of foreign growth, and is appli-
cable to greater. variety of purposes. The
Merino sheep are found to be more hardy,
and their feeces higher in market than any
other. The expense of raising them is less
than that Of raising any other Their flesh
as an article of food, is superior to that of any
other sheep.
is now ascertained to be an undoubted
iact that our climate is far better adapted to
Woolgrowing, than that of the Northern
STATES We are assured by gentleman, emf
nenfiy qualified to Judge, that Merino wool
taken from sheep brought from Vermont. AZ.
ter they have been here for three years Is
worth at least 10 cents more per pound than
that clipped from the same sheep in more
Northern climate 1t becomes not only long.
er, but finer, and, of course, is what is needed
We have been shown by Mr.. Stokes, of the
firm of Flanagan, Stokes & Co. specimens
of wool from the Cotswold sheep, raised by
Messrs. VIM. r. Allen and j. l.. Cralle, of Lu
nenbnrg, which was equal to any thing Of
the kind ever seen here. Its staple was very
great-beiDg from u up to 81 inches.--
But it is not suited to our markets, being ser
viceable chiefly for hand combing, worsted
goods and carpeting. II win also have To
compete with similar article which 10 i'm