Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-02-20
agricultural Reading.
Wool Growing.

HUN INT OCufftUt " OcHt"so'SN ~
wool produced in this country is nearly
all of medium grades F.; very coarse and
very fine grades we must import, or
abandon the manufactures for which they
are used. Now it may happen that prices
for medium grades of wool abroad Will
continue so high for years to come that
the cost of importation will exceed 40
cents, if free of duty, in which case
protective duty viii be entirely inopera-
tive in its effect on prices, but if there
should happen TO be a couple OF years
when importations can be made much
under that price, it would lead to a very
large abandonment of the business on
the part of those now engaged in it. The
present duty is merely protection against
such fluctuations; perhaps it is higher
than is necessary for that purpose if so,
it should be reduced, but not to the pro-
posed rate of 10 per cent, which will
prove inadequate beyond doubt. 1t is
true that the case may never again occur
when any protection will be wanted; but
if any provisions is to be made for the
contingency that it may be, why not
make it sufficient one and why should
the coarse and fine grades, which we do
not produce, be taxed at all It would
be better, we think, to allow these free
entry, and impose duty of 30 per cent.
on the other.
"By the census of1S50, there was in the
State of Vermont about 100000 acres
of cultivated land, capable ofkeeping an
nually three sheep to theacre, producing
each four pounds of wool, or 31,200,000
pounds, which at forty cents per pound
would produce an annual income of S12,-
24S,00O.
By good husbandry, three lambs could
be raised from every four of those sheep
which at two dollars per head would pro-
duce an annual income of II 100000.
Therefore, were all the cultivated land
in the State of Vermont devoted to sheep
husbandry, it would produce an annual
income of s24,1SO,O0O.
The annual income of mixed agricul-
ture in the State of Vermont, by the Gen.
sus of 1910, as estimated by Professor
: Tucker, in the progress of the United
States, was s25, 437, 900, or S1,257, 0OC
, greater than could be produced by de
voting the whole State to sheep hus-
bandry at the foregoing prices.
The warm climate of the State of Ala
bama is prejudicial TO the growth of boil
grass and wool. On Its 100000 acre
+ of cultivated land there could not be KEEP
over two sheep to the acre, producin,
i two pounds of wool per head, or 1850,
600 pounds, which, at forty cents pc
> pound, would produce s7,040,0OO. TIL,
: income Of lambs, estimated as in Yer
mont, would be S13,200,OO0 the who'll
5 income of lambs and wool of cours
II amounting to S2O,24O,O0O. It's who'll
: annual income from mixed agriculture i
e 1910, was S24,5OO,OO0, or s4,260,OO
e greater than could be produced by de
ID voting the whole state to sheep hu.
II bandry.
u This example, taken from the State
of Vermont and Alabama, may be $,
down as holding good for all the No
thern and Southern States. And tn
lg wholesale estimate of wool growing ma
Or be taken as basis upon which to estimal
the profits on any limited scale.
or This showing will explain why, undo
r. our uncertain and frequent unremuner;
re ting markets, the business of wool-groy
or ing is so far from keeping up with IL
or requirements of the country. For me-
viii not continue the business of woo
= growing when mixed agriculture sha
: prove to be more profitable. a little i
judicious legislation upon the subject,
other discouragements may leave Of
" country, in both peace and war, as d
= pendent upon other countries for OF
= wool, as the people ofother countries a
dependent upon US for their cotton. Al
= it is matter worthy of considerable
that, should the business of wool-growiI
in this country be to a great extent aba
:, doned, the manufacturers, in obtainir
their foreign supplies, would have to d
J. pend very much upon markets oy
~ which their foreign rivals have an almc
i exclusive control"
I'D HoT WATER FOR HOUSE PLANTS.
nd A correspondent Of the Boston CuItir
d. tor, writing ofthe management of hou
iol, plants, says
30 The way to have healthy plants
pi- to shorten in all Struggling growth, a
md remove every leaf and flower as soon
ISL the least symptoms of decay is percei
rad able vasbinrr fb.,,, 1a-: