The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-06-01
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
Wool---Sheep..- Hay, &c.


Messrs. Ediiors:-lt was remarked by
the Editor of the Ohio Statesman, a few
days since, that "our farmers llocks Of
sheep will pay them rich returns hence
forth. There is not in the Union a better
country for sheep farming. than the undu'
lating region Of Ohio. The demand for
wool is increasing beyond all precedent,
while the increase in the number of sheep
kept, bears no proportion to the increase
of population. We are largely depending
on foreign countries for wool, and in these
the production is rapidly falling off. Aus
t~ralia, the great wool-exporiing country Of
the earth, can no longer be depended upon
for those large supplies which once cross.
ed the ocean in hundreds IF bottoms
Gold has deranged all farming operations
there, and flock keeping more than any
other. The sheep drink unshorn from
the streams in which sparkles the gliitering
gold"
We shall not engage in many sPecula-
tons as 10 the cause Of the present high
prices of wool. The Statesman is proba.
bly, correct in its views on the subject
The world being mostly at peace, It's
population is rapidly on the increase, and
the extension OF Christianity, and the arts
and sciences, is promoting, in a correspond
ing degree, the spread of civilization. This
creates an augmented demand for articles
Of human comfort, much beyond the extent
to which some of them are produced, and
the increase of their market value has been
| The necessary result. This has been true,
especially of Cotton and Coffee, the prices
of which are now much above that of their
former cost. The causes operating TO
create this advance, have proved 10 be
permanent ones, and there is little expecta.
lion of any great decline in the present val.
ue of either Cotton or Coffee, for many
years TO come.
If the present high price of Wool be
due 10 an inadequate production of the ar
ticle, then we must expect these rates to be
maintained until the supply shall again
equal the demand. But ifthe peace of the
world be maintained, population must 60
on increasing in its present ratio, and the
demand for Wool, like that for cotton, be
KEEP, up in a corresponding degree.
II is the opinion of those best capable oil
judging, that the high prices of wool will
continue, and that an increased production
of this commodity, in the United States
must be secured. TO decide on the best
field for the promotion Of this object,
is then a question OF much impor-
lance, and it is time that public attention
should be called 10 the subject.
A few years since it was thought thai
the luxurilnl crops of grass in the western
p%rairies would afford a rich return TO The
wool grower. Some Of the largest sheep
owners in western Pennsylvania, drove a
few thousands of their focks to Illinois, 10
test the question. The sheep sent oui
were of the finer wooded stock. The TX
pertinent, | have been informed entirely
failed, the coarse prairie grass being uE-
suited for the production Of fine WOOL
Sucn was Inc deterioration IN The quality
Of the wool, in the same animal and such
the difference between that grown on Iii.
nois prairie grass and the Washington
county pastures. that the sheep were with.
drawn from the West, or sold of 10 others.
and the scheme abandoned. The greater
c~heapness Of the Illinois pastures did no
compensate for the diminished value of The
wool.
The most favorable lands for fine wool
ed sheep, are those which are billy ant
dry, so that the sheep may not be subjected
10 the necessity Of bedding on wet grounds
The pastures best adapted 10 The pro
duciion of fine wool are those sci in whit,
clover, blue grass, and timothy.
DAVID CIIRISTY.