Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-02-09
From tho Wool Grower.
FUTURE PROsPSCTs OF Woodland
HOW To GROW IT.

fSS AISn returns Tor invested capital
and labor. During the last decade, there
mas been in many OF the old wool
growing States. large falling off in the
number OF sheep raised and pounds of
wool grown. In 1910, New York had up
wards OF 100000 sheep, being some
over quarter of all there was in the Uni
Ted States. Vermont then had over l.
ooo, 600. Now, New York has only 81
SOC, 600. and Vermont only fraction over
goo 600. and by january, 1858, her fiocks
VII doubtless not exceed 100000! The
causes which have led to this result are
Various. but it is foreign to our purpose to
speak of them. In many other States
there has been similar decrease or fall
ing off.
For ten years. the increase of sheep
throughout the Union, has been only one
and a half millions, while the population
has increased from eighteen to twenty four
millions. The American population dou
Is IN about twenty-five years, without
the, aid of foreign immigration and it is
moreover true, that the annual increase of
our population. requires the feeces of / =
100000 sheep. Six pounds of wool to
every man. woman and child in the Uni
ted States, is the estimated average
amount required yearly for their comfort
and use. Consequently they consume $50,
100000 TBS. OF this amount we grow
SO, 500, 600, or tride over two pounds
for each individual. Now, we actually
consume annually, three times the amount
We grow. and this compelS us to buy of
foreign nations 1OO. 900. 600 lbs. OF this.
$4,000. 900 is bought in the raw material,
and the balance in manufactured goods.
If it be a correct estimate, that the in
habitants of the northern and middle lati-
tudes require annually the wool of two
sheep to each individual. then it follows
that in many of the wool-growing coun-
tries of Europe, we shall look in vain for
exports, in consequence Of the large gain
of population over the gain of their focks.
France with population of 36,OOO,-
600, keeps only fraction over $4,000,
900 sheep. Austria with population of
100000, has only SO, 100000 sheep.
Great Britain and Ireland, with popua-
ton of % 100000, keep only 32.0o0,OOO
sheep. The sheep of Russia number &c.
100000, while the population is 6O,0OO,-
600. Spain does better population of
100000 keeps 18,OOO.Oo sheep
Prussia has 100000 inhabitats and
100000 sheep. Turkey, with pop
ulatiou 100000, keeps 1900, 900
while Sweden and Denmark keep less than
100000 with population of over s.,
100000. In short, in seventeen of the
largest nations of Europe, the sheep num-
Der only 207. III, 35l, while the sum to-
tai of the population of these countries is
over 225, 100000.
1t appears clear that these nations can
not export wool, for in many of them wool
growing has reached its utmost limits, and
yet do not raise enough for their own con-
sumption The Australian colonies, since
1843. have never exported less than 49,
100000 TBS. annually, and often rs high
as 100000. Since the discovery of the
gold mines. however, which has caused
great neglect of the hocks, England has
suffered materially in her receipts of wool
from that region. 1t appears that there
is deficiency of sheep and wool through
out nearly all of the great wool-growing
sections of the globe and hence we infer
that wool, especially good wool. will COM
mand high price for a series of years to
come.
Heavy drafts are being made upon the
old stock Of cloths in market, and when
these are exhaused we may expect per-
mauent rise in the manufactured fabric
Many of the countries that once exported
hne woods, now export none. The South
American States still export large quaint
ties of wool, but it is of the coarser grades
and cannot enter into competition with
wool grown in the United States From
whatever point we view the subject, we
must utter it. as the strong conviction of
our best Judgment, that the inducements
to grow more wool present stronger claims
L. 4
American farmer, than those of any and
almost of every other of the varied pur-
suits of agricultural wealth.
But" says the reader, g to enable me
to grow more wool, must l not purchase
more sheep" l reply, not necessarily.
You can grow much more upon the same
number than you ever have, doubtless
Every one knows that the same acre Of
tillage land may be made to produce from
80 to so per cent. more than its usual
yield, by the aid of fertilizers. So may a
flock of sheep be made to shear from 80
to so per cent. more of wool, by the aid
of fertilizers, or in other words, by adapt
ing their feed to the make and growth of
wool. One of the constituent parts of wool
is albumen hence those grains which
contain the largest per cent of albumen,
make the most wool when fed to sheep.
Wheat and rye contain largely of it-peas
and beans have % per cent. of it-oats
lO4 per cent. only.
1t has been ascertained by actual expe-
riment.* that the following are the results
of feeding different kinds of roots and
grains for the production Of wool:
1000 lbs. potatoes, raw, with salt, make
81 lbs. of wool
L" mangle wurtzcl, raw, make 81