Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-01
GQ0ttester 4ailp Spp
From the Massachusetts PIoughman.
Sheep HusbaMdrY,

The demand for wool created by the war
has given an impetus to this branch of hus-
bandry, wholly unprecedented in the history
of the country. To supply the wants of our
armies, which can only be made tolerably
comfortable by an abundant supply of well
made WOODEN clothing, the looms of the north
are run to their utmost capacity, (many of
them by the use of two sets of hands, night
and day. And it is the business and interest
of the enterprising and patriotic farmer to
keep up the supply of the raw material by
every effort within his power, that unsympa-
thizing foreign nations may not profit too
much by our necessities and more than all,
that the brave defenders of our nationality
and ourselves may not suffer for the want OF
such garments as will protect them from the
night dews, drenching rains and piercing cold.
In ordinary times and in favorable localit-
les sheep raising has seldom been unremuner-
alive, but at the present time and in the pre-
sent state of the market, such additional in
ducements are offered to intelligent cultiva-
tors of the soil to enter more largely upon this
branch of husbandry as should prompt them
to be up and doing.
If there is wisdom in the old adage to
F'make hay while the sun Shines" there is
none the less in making other crops under cir
cumstances altogether favorable to their pro-
only on the score of its present and prospect
i've advantages, but as duty, to increase the
production of wool.
We think no one need be deferred from en-
tering upon the business by any anticipations
that the sudden ending of the war, at no very
remote period, will make wool q drug in the
market, and knock down prices to the low
est standard it has ever reached, for it must
be borne in mind that when the relations of
the people of the south to the Union are fully
restored, that there are eight millions of peo-
pie almost as destitute of clothing as Adam in
the garden of Eden; who must draw for years
to come, their principal supplies from the
northern states. To them sheep husbandry is
unknown. The power loom is not one OF then
institutions; and in consequence of the high
tariff made necessary by their persistence in
rebellion, they must look to us for many years
in the future for their wooden goods, so es-
sentlal to the responsibility of their appear
ance in a time of peace, and also to their
comfort.
The present tariff, coupled with the premi-
UNI on gold and the price of foreign exchange,
has operated to discourage foreign shipments,
and it will be their own fault if the farmers of
the north and west do not take advantage of
such a remarkable combination of circumstan-
ces for their benefit.
From present indications, and from the best
information attainable by us, we incline to the
opinion that the style ofwool likely to be most
in demand for several years to come, will be
long staple, open, moderately fine, light
wool, such as is easily produced by the first
and second groupings Of the Merino upon the
coarse wooded stocks But whatever may be
the kind or quality of the wool, the prospects
of good demand in the future for all des-
criDtiOnS. are ahOut nnua1lv favorable
We have seen it stated that the army re-
quirements alone for the present year will be
at least titty-one millions of pounds, which is
only ten millions of pounds less than one
half the entire product Of the United States,
as estimated by parties familiar with the whole
subject. Whether this immense army de-
mand will continue through another season is
at present sadly uncerta in Should it con-
tinue, the coarse wool will continue dispro-
por ionately high, though it is by no means
probable that the finer woods will, for many
years to come, meet such a depression as eX-
listed before the outbreak of the rebellion.
Cotton, the great source of supply for the tex
tile fabrics of the world, being virtually cut
off by the war, it is evident that for long
time to come, wooden fabrics must take the
place of many for which cotton has been hith-
erto considered essential, and it does not
seem probable that any description of wool
will go much below the average of the present
year. The same causes operating upon for
eign markets may be expected to produce
similar results abroad, and thus relieve the
farmers of the United States of much of the
competition of foreign woods which has in for
mer years operated so much to their detri-
ment. The returns of the assessors of Mas
sschusetts for the year 1861 show that there
were but 900 sheep in the state. Consid-
ering the abundance of land in nearly every
county that is favorable for sheep raising, and
the wise and just legislation both of state and
nation, tor the encouragement of this branch
of industry, such an exhibition is not credita-
BILE to the intelligence and enterprise of the
farmers of the state; and we earnestly hope
the hints and suggestions thrown out above
may induce many of our readers to give to
the subject the attention which its importance
deserves.