Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-05-10
From the Southern Homestead
RepIY 10 Mr.. CockriIiss Challenge.

Reply 10 Mr.. COckrili'S Challenge
There has been published in many papers, re-
Gently, what purports 10 be challenge from Mark
R. Cockrll, OF Nashville, Tennessee, for trial Of
the comparative merits Of sheep aud Of the sdap>
tedness of climate for the production Of fine wool
Mr.. Cockrills propositions contain what TO me
iHsuperable objections. 1t is easy to distinguish
between premiums paid by Agricultural Societies
for improvement in animals, &C., &C., and wager
in BET, because these societies the representa-
tves of the Agricultural interest which, lying at
the basis of all trade, makes them the representa-
tives of the community at large; and while the in
dividual receives in the way Of premium advertise
ment &C., some compensation for the money, time,
labor and skill expended in producing and develops
ing the improvement, society at large receives
more than equivalent for the premium in the
general advantage of the Improvement But l can
not how the Ysnquished party, in trial of the
kind proposed, woudreeeive equivalent for 81 0G0
paid the victor. Therefore, cannot separate it
from any other wager though s,aked upon desirable
and laudable competition. l object again, that Mr..
Cockrill fixes the place for the trial close to his
home,-for, in addition to the expense Of going
thither, it is well known that travelled sheep al
ways appear to a disadvantage against those imme-
diately from the fold and l think competitors
should have equal voice in fixing the place Of ex-
hibition. Again his test is indefinite and uDrelia.
ble-because, it may mean either the most wool,
without regard to quantity neither of which wuald
be reliable test Of tho comparative merits of
sheep and climate for the production of fire wool
One sheep may yield lbs wool, worth 40 cents per
ID, another lbs worth 60 cents, and another
lbs. worth 20 cents per lb-all fine, so wool Yet
if the expense of keeping each is the same, he
profits from flock Of each kind would be very diff
ferent The sheep which produce the most dollars
and cents worth Of fine wool, in proportion TO cost
of keeping, the most valuable producers Of
fine wool And it has been ascerta;ned by experi~
ment, that sheep, especially those of one breed
(such as the MerinO fos instance consume food go
nearly in proportion TO carcass that 1t is sufficient
y accurate for practical purposes to assert that the
consumption of food is In proportion 10 the weight
of carcass. Believing the above objections will be
considered by all TO be reasonable and valid, will
meet Mark L. COckrills proposition with a counter
one, viz Il will exhibit ewes and 2 rams against
q like number from his flock. l TO confine myself
for selection 10 those of the sheep imported by c.
C. and L. from Siesia and their descendants which
are still in our possession, numbering near 800
head and he 10 cOnfne himself to his own flock
which understand numbers2 500 to 900 head. The
sheep all to be shOrn close day appointed, and
exhibited before, and shorn and weighed in the
presence of committee, at such time and place
about one year thereafter as May be agreed upon.
The committee to take the wool and place it in the
charge Of three Of the most competent and success
full tine wool manufacturers in the United States,
who shall have it assorted and cleansed and ap-
praise each parcel at its actual cash value in the
cleansed state. Whichever produces the most dol
lars and cents worth of fine wool in proportion to
carcass, shall be considered to excel If his sheep
excel, give to him $1,000 for his seven. If ours
excel, he TO give 50, 900 for them. With regard
to place Of exhibition, will pay his expenses if he
will come to my place; or will go to Nashville il
he will pay mine; or will meet him at any place
near half way that may be agreed upon.
As Mark R. Cookrill has purchased q number Of
Siessn sheep of me in three years past, and the
trial would be of more interest 10 u.s. and more ad-
vantage to the public if made between different va
rieties of sheep, and the stock bred by him for
thirty years would show the effects of climate
himself in his selection exclusively to that stock,
and not take any of those bought of or their de-
scendants or crosses. w. H. LADD.
RIcHMoRD, Jefferson CO., Ohio.