Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-04-17
w COL wing.

weeks New England Farmer, and was
written, the editor says, at bis special
request. 1T is from the PEN he says,
"of gentleman thoroughly acquainted
with his subject" The editor commend.
it especially to our Vermont farmers, Tor
their candid consideration
The care OF sheep, and the condition
and quality ofthe food upon which they
subss', whether in the barn or pasture,
has great influence upon the quality OF
the wool and its value for manufacturing
purposes. Sudden and unfavorable
changes in the pasture and food, whether
the effect is TO latten the sheep or make
them poorer, will affect the quality OF
the wool for good or evil. There are
two immediate changes in the fibre at
such times. One is making a joint
where the new growth commences,
which often separates in carding, on ac-
count Of its brittleness, thereby shorten
ing the wool, which is very often iniuri-
Gus to the kind of goods in which the
wool is being worked and the other is in
the change Of oily or fluid substances,
both within and without the tube of the
fibre and its adaptibility to receive color.
Wool taken from a sheep which has
died from exposure to cold and change
diseased, is always found hard to take a
good color. This is in consequence of
the cosgulated character of the only sub
stance in the tube Of the wool. which be-
comes very hard TO remove under such
circumstances, aud will resist the dye
When changes take place in the pas
ture, are very striking, the joints before
mentioned are not only produced as oft
en- as such changes are made, but the
substances pervadng the interior of the
/
tube will be found TO be different be-
tween each joint thus made, and will re-
quire different solving powers before
they will take the o Tor uniformity
through the whole length Of the fibre.
This effect has been demonstrated the
last year very fully in indigo colors, and
has worked great damage at first at
trbuted to the indigo, but subsequently
found to be in he wool.
The theory of the influence of climate
upon sheep, as well as pastrrage and
feed upon their wool, is by no means
new; though some of your correspon-
dents seem to ridicule the idea. Such
persons must be sadly ignorant of the
sheep literature Of the past, as well as of
practical manufacturing of the present
day, or they would not trus: an idea OF
such Importance lightly. The first req
uisite of wool is fneaess, which is pro
duced under and governed by all the
laws Of stock raising, such as good blood,
or breed, to start with, and feed pastur-
age, climate and careful keeping.
The second is SotinsSs, which is almost
entirely governed by the character of
| feed, pasiurage and care, which will fix
the character OF the "yolk" or oily mat
ter which surrounds and penetrates the
tube of the fibre. This substance c1ag-
ulates and crystalizes around and within
The iibre in cleaning, and renders ii harsh
and brittle, or soft and silky, according
10 the influences which have governed it
ia its growth.
The third is the length Of fiber, which
IS not of so much consequence when its
real length can be estimated by the man
ulacturers. But for ages it has been
well known that the change OF climate
and condition of the sheep has affected
and almost governed the length Of wool.
| Wool comes TO us in various states,
each country gives ii certain character
for our market, all affected by locaLty
as wrll as by different breeds of sheep
from which the wool is taken. Austria
ian wool is divided into several varie-
ties. German wool is the finest usually
used for broadclolhs, in connection with
the Australian and Cape wool. The
great magnitude of the worsted trade is
Of comparatively late interest, though
very ancient in its introduction. and uses
long wool. Spain, Portugal, Denmark,
Sweden, Prussia, and in fact all Europe,
have changed the whole character of
their wool, by chances of breed, climate
and keeping, and it only remains for
America to do what she can do, to pro-
duce as good wool, and as much of it, a.
any country of the same size on the face
OF the globe. What, in fact, may not
Massachusetts do? She can raise wool for
her whole manufactures. She can raise
flax as a partial substitute for cotton !;
and when she does this, she will find her
home-proiuce more valuable to her.
IRON the fact that the capital thus served
will fill gap now open, and growing
wider and deeper, dangerously so, by
importations from other States of pro-
duce she might do without, and which
carry of her silver and gold, as well as
much of her best eneroies wifbout n rron