Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-02-01
farmers Department.


THE Germans are unriYalled IN their seienti-
sc and practical knowledge ofeyerJ department
in agriculture, and in no one superior TO that
Of sheep management, Economy is the grand
basis OF every species Of cultivation, and their
profits are rigidiy determined by the expense Of
means employed in production. A writer who
is familiar with the subject speaks thus:-'The
great distinction 10 German agriculture COM
pared with our own, is economy. The question
Is not, whether great crop can be produced.
or Rne story can be told, what large animals
can be raised, Debut what is the whole cost,
The expenditure Of labor. Of land, Of manure,
&c. For this reason computations have been
made, and the proportion of all the parts and
processes has Been fixed. Economy compels
them TO weigh and measure their fodder
The minutest details have been entered into,
the most difficult points examined, and the re-
suits brought outf
The FIRST thing which wiz strike the reader is
the daily varistious Of fodder, in which We see
manifested the principle Of economy practically
carried out. The grain fields, and not almost
wholly meadows, as in this country, are made
greatly the means Of maintenance oftheir fJcks
during winter; thus not a pound Of straw nor a
pound Of any y:hing valuable is permitted to be
wasted Hence the cultivation Of sheep and
crops IN a measure are mutually dependent OIL
each other. The manure Of the flock augments
the quantity Of grain, and thus larger quaint
ty Of straw is provided for it in return. We al
SO observed displayed, their knowledge Of ths
habit Of the sheep as seen manifested in its ca
gerness for varieties OF food, and its love Of fire.
quent change. In this habit Of the aplmals W,
behold that wise economy Of nature in endow
ling It with instincts 10 promote its welfare to tn
greatest extent in every point of view. On
kind OF food may deyelope flesh, and anothe
make fat; but it seems to be aware that severa
! kinds are required to enable its digestive or
gans to effect such chemical combinations a
will not only nourish the wool, out assimilate tn
inore anic substances which compose the exter
nal parts Of the flament.
: From thousands of experiments made i
} German, it has been demonstrated that ha
, alone will not produce as much wool, as whe
straw is mixed, which cannot be philosophical
; explained on any other principle than tha
which has been laid down. 1t must be repea
ted, that variety only will furnish those perfeC
proportions of organic and inorganic material
Of which wool is composed. live give the an
; finals too much food Of oarbonized or faLten
8 ing character, the fbres Of wool, being tabula
. in their conformation, distend or become coal
ser, and the weight is certainly increased; bl
= on the contrary, if fed several kinds, and eaC
n abounds as largely as possible with albumel
Q the gore is materially increased in lengtl
A though not SO much in bulk, simply BET au,
: the variations Of food supply to greater e.
tent the substances requisite to form the fill
ment This may be termed natural wool, II
is quantity or weight Ofwhich wilIIbe as great
s. that produced by feeding grOsser food, whiC
a. has the effect 10 increase the diameter of Il
fibre at the expense of the length, and ther
y fore is coarser as we'll as harsh and wIry, II
Vt Germans abhor feeding large quantities of ia
rt tening food in growing Saxon wool, as it de
ke trops its delicate texture, and its value is ess
"A ed accordingly for the manufacture of the 6nt
and softeBt fabrics.
The American wool grower need not ovC
feed simply with avew to make heavy fleece
or as the wool of The sheep, when fat is com2ar
lively coarse; and the expense OF the food us
, in placing them in this condition, together vi
. the reduction in the value of their wool, "
more than counterbalsnce the gain from the
II. creased weight. The wool Of the Saxon a
Merno variety is never so beautiful and perC
t in all respects, as when it is natural; and Il
n. follows only from keeping the sheep in healt
! store order, and nothing beyond that. n
. feeding Of grain by the Germans is simply
:. equivalents, hay always being the standard,
"' which She quantity of any kind of food. dali
is determined. Their aim is not to increase
es flesh and fat at the expense Of the wool or a
Of its valuable properties; and ii we ever exp
to rival them in the extensive production of I
:. most beautiful wool in the world, and at I
- least sacrifice, We must initiate their econor
~ in feeding. and unsurpassed mode of arrsnl
70 ment all things, MOrrelPs Shepherd.
IS -:O.-