New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-12
Confederate clerk of the prison:
VERMONT AGRICULTURALs SOCIETY
STATE Fab.
wool.Growors' Convention.

'''- va RUTLAND. Tu-sesy. Sept o. 1861.
By resolution Of the Directors Of the Vermont
State Agricultural Society last Winter, Wool
Gro wers Convention was called for the first day
of the fair at this place. This was an experiment
TO zee If wool-srowes could ne, Gud tome,hing 81
interest 10 talk about ss well rs hose.broedou, and
those engaged in other branches Of agriculture. 1t
was though. to 10 an interest which Vermont far
uers should talk about. Sill, feared that enough
of them TO make meeting interesting could not DO
got together, that the meeting might fail to be
sufhcienty interesting to make II worthy OF repct-
ton. In all this, fears have proved groundless.
was held to-day; IL VIA well attended; IL ws ex-
ceedingly interesting; and IL was unanimously
agreed 10 be continued.
1 will give few condensed notes Of part Of what
vas said.
The President Of the Society, Edwin Hammond
Of Middlebury, who Is . large breeder Of valuable
fne-wooled sheep, such as be SELF from s25 TO 500
each, opened the meeting by few pertinent re-
marks upon the great intsrest Vermont bis In the
wool business, aud tho importance OF wcoi-gIowers
meeting together to discuss that interest. and then
introduced the Secretary OF the Society, Daniel
Needham Of Hartford, w., who gave very inter.
esiDg address, containing some valuable statistical
matter, among which we noted the following. lie
said, In substance:
We not only clothe ourselves neatly and CON-
fortaby, but in doing IL we up all the wool that
the country produces, and large quantities Of im-
ported wool, beside imported fabrics. Farmers for
want Of information disposed Of much Of their wool
ut ruinoas sacnfces, when the war broke out-in
this State below the cost Of production.
In 1861 we imported s., 900, OOO value Of wool and
e23 000, 900 value Of wooden fabnss, and that was
$40 600 900 iess than IN lsG0. Tie range for three
years las been &I5, 100000 10 ei5,0O0,00 We
import the products Of 13 900. 900 Of sheep, which
we bad better keep in this country. This proves
that We are in no immediate danger Of getting too
many sheep.
The increase Of population IN the United States
would require the wool Of 1000, 900 Of sheep.
No animals are 20 we'll adapted 10 Vermont noun.
tain pastures u sheep, and pone NO productive.
In 1850 tho number Of sheep 10 the State wa
little over q million, and the yield Of wool trhe
over three pounds head. By improved care this
yield has been largely increased.
In 1850 the total Of sheep In the United States
was q $4,000, averaging a pounds vi wool per
snnum.
We read Of the great care bestowed upon some Of
the fine wool focks Of Europe, without seeming to be
aware that equal care is bestowed upon some locks
in Vermont.
To show the need Of protection TO the wool.
grower, q, we'll as TO the manufacturer, look at the
prices OF imported wool. In 1861 il averaged ia
cents. II comes mostly from South Americs, where
the principal cost Of production Ii shsaring the
sheep.
While we can produce every grade of wool needed
in this country, We should DO independent Of any
other country. Protecting the manufacturer does
not wholly protect the wool-Rrower. One Of the
great needs OF Legislation is repeal Of the reel.
procity treaty." the benefits Of Which all on the
bntish side.
Give equal protection TO all the great interests Of
tho country, and all honest mon viii 10 satisfied
The prospect Of the next few years 10 very en-
couragng to the wOol-growers. In consequence Of
the supply OF cotton being cut oil, we shall more
wool, beside the great demand for army purposes.
We bad 10 surplus last year, and the clip of 1862
was very early bought up, and the price has con-
tinued TO advance.
The great practical question, and the one for
which this Convention was called principally TO
discuss, is, how we shall prepare wool for market.
wool washed or unwashed1 The buyers usualy
make about rs per cont difference between washed
and unwashed wool, but no discrimination between
that which is thoroughly clean and that Of man
who has only washed his sheep to make bis wool
sell ct higher price, while II 10 but little lighter
than that sheared without washing the sheep.
The conscientious msu has very Little encourage.
nent.
TIE question OF the health Of the sheep-wLether
il Is injured by washing and carrying the fleece till
very warm weather-s al important one for farmers
10 discuss, and possible, produce uniformity Of
action.
The improvement Of Vermont sheep has been
In 1910, there was no, buck in the
State that would shear l2 pounds. Now there are
plenty that give 20 ~ Is pounds and II IL not made
up of oil and dlrt, but will give GO per cent Of genu
inc clean wool.
With such bucks to be bad, there arc mon who |
till keep their old native stock Of sheep; and gen.
,rally the same men have unimproved cattle and
work with the old wooden aud wrought-ir0n plow. |
After trying all sorts, the majority Of Vermont
woo.growers have settled upon the Spanish merino,
As best adapted 10 their soil and climate and noun
ain pastures.
The average cost Of keeping sheep IL estimated per
.nnum ms follows: Illinois, GO cents; Iowa, 75c.;
Michigan. &c.; Virginia, Co.,; New,Jersey, 6oc.i
50c.; Name, 81; California, 75c.
Vermont, 81 80.