The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-06-26
Horticultural Column.
THOUGHTS FOR WOOL GROWERS.

EDS. fRAlRlE T AKMEk III mas De-
come a settled question that wool grow
ing in the West has become a very
profitable branch Of industry. 1t has
been doubted by many that keeping
sheep exclusively for wool was profit
able business but the steady advance
ment made in sheep and wool the past
ten years, seems to remove the strongest
doubts. Still there are many at the
present time doubling whether it pays
to bestow much attention to the improve
ment Of sheep for wool; for the reason
that the coarser grades Of wool were in
quicker demand the past season than
fine. Extremes always seem to rage in
the wool market, which are often a
great detriment to the breeder, by intro
ducing a very inferior breed, thereby
destroying the well adapted qualities Of
his flock for wool, which had cost him
years Of labor to improve. Fine woods
have always been in better request than
the coarse, and always will, because the
more desirable and fashionable clothes
are made Of such.
The wool grower should consider we'll
his own interest-he should aim to i'm
prove his wool and sheep in a way that
will yield him the greatest profit,
regarding well the fine, while lengthy,
dense staple of wool, which will always
invariably suit the manufacturer, and
when worked by him into cloths, in a
true and honest manner, keeping it
free from combustible of different kinds
that often infest the cloths) the con-
sumner is we'll pleased by using an article
that is desirable, and at the same time
feeling that he is not imposed upon, but
can wear the true and genuine atticle.
1t is a question with many which breeds
Of sheep are most profitable. Permit
me to suggest few thoughts on breeding
sheep for wool.
l will confne my remarks more d.
rectly to localities remote from the great
mutton markets. In such localities as
most Of the Western States, the produc-
ton Of wool should be the primary
object; we should keep such sheep as
will yield the most wool from the least
keeping, or the greatest profit at the
least expense. The Spanish Merino
possess more points Of excellence than
any other breed Of sheep for wool, and
are generally considered by good breed
ers to be better adapted to our climate
than any other breed that has been
introduced. They are Of medium size,
compact in form, bearing fine lengthy
thick-set staple, which is good shield
against storms and the severe cold
weather of winter, rendering them the
hardest and most complete sheep to
endure the Western climate. 1t cannot
be denied by those who have had exper-
fence that such sheep are the most
profitable for wool growing. They
yield a very bulky, heavy fleece, the
fibre being very strong, we'll adapted to
the manufacturers use, while the wool
grower is amply paid for his expense in
rearing and keeping his flock. Many
Of our Western wool growers are not
satisfied with the Spanish sheep, on
account Of size; they are not content
with the medium, compact form, yield
ing the greatest profit from the least
keeping, but continually experimenting
in order to increase the size Of the car
cass SO as to make the sheep profitable
for wool and mutton. Some are in
favor Of crossing the Spanish with the
long wool mutton sheep, while others
think cross with the French Merino is
beneficial. l cannot see any real inn
provement made in crossing the Spanish
with either Of the above breeds, as each
breed is naturally adapted to certain
points and conditions, and when put
together produce breed partaking of
the bad qualities of each, which will
depart wider and wider from the good
points Of each breed by each remove.
Many, by fair trial, have become con-
WINGED that they have been humbugged,
and are anxious to get back to their
original standing with a good flock of
Spanish sheep again. Incalculable
mischief has been done in this country,
and much more SO in the East, by an
attempt to improve the Spanish sheep
by crossing with other breeds. The
mischief is more apparent now than it
was, and the time will come when the
few who have breasted the popular de-
fusion and have kept their hocks pure,
will reap rich reward, not only by the
sale of their sheep, but in the thanks of
the country.
To such wool growers who have incl.