Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-06-03
Effects Of Temperature on Wool.

The primary effect produced upon all ami
mails by change of climate, is the altera-
ton in the character of the outside coat or
covering; whether it be of WOOL hair, or fur
In many cases this change is almost nstanta-
neous--a single night of exposure to cold
storm being sufficient to raise the smooth lay
ing hairs upon the well groomed horse and
make them stand out almost at right angles
with his body.
The horse, if carefully housed warmly
clad and properly groomed, will retain, with
little change, his short, silky coat Of summer
during the entire year But expose him
without shelter to the frosts of autumn and
the storms Of winter, and his thin, glossy
dress of summer will be gone, and you will
find in its place mass Of hair harsh and
long and so thick and close that il feels under
the hand almost like fleece of wool
OF all our domestic animals, perhaps none
more speedily adapts itself to change of
climate than the sheep. As wool-bearng
animal, its natural habitat seems to be a tenn
perate climate and it is a noticeable fact that
the culture of fine wool has been pursued
with little success in ATTITUDES where the tenn
perature is either extremely hot or cold.
Extreme cold tends to check the secretion
of the oily substance which furnishes the
principal nourishmcnt to the fbres of wool,
and also keeps it in a soft and plant condi-
ton. Extreme heat also Injuries the quality
Of the wool, by tending to promote excessive
evaporation, and thus rendering the fibre
harsh and brittle Every breeder of fine
wooded sheep, must have noticed that imme-
diately after shearing, the wool remaining
upon the sheep becomes harsh, dry, and stiff
This is owing to the exposure of the skin to
the sun and wind, which renders it hard and
dry, thus nearly closing the glands which Sc
crete the yolk or oily matter, that is so neces-
sary to the healthy growth and condition of
tie wool.
1t was the knowledge of the fact that an
equable temperature was of great Importance,
to the production of fine wool, that led some
breeders in Saxony to cover their sheep with
clothing But experience has proved that
this is not advisable, for although the fibre
thus produced is soft and fine yet it lacks the
briliancy and elasticity of wool which is not
thus deprived of air and light, and seems,
like plants grown in cellar to be weak and
sckly.
1t appears highly probable that the excel
lence Of the wool of the Spanish Merino is,
in measure, due to the equable temperature
which is secured by their extensive migrations,
passing the winter in the mild climate of Is
tramadura and Andalusia, and the summer
in the mountains Of CASTLE or the Pyrenees.
All successful breeders of fne-wooled SHEEP
very well understand the Importance of pro.
tecting them from the sudden changes of TEN,
perature so common in our variable climate
but large majority of farmers seem to have
only faint idea of the importance of this
and very many appear to imagine that al
abundance of hay fed at the stack in the oper
meadow with little grain, is all that is re-
quired. 1t is true that sheep, by liberia
feeding, may be kept in fair condition with
out shelter, but although the condition of tn,
carcass be maintained, and the animal appear
thrifty, the quality of the fleece will mos
certainly deteriorate This will in man,
cases account for the want of success whcl
has followed the attempts Of some farmers t
grow fine wool They have, perhaps, proour
ed breeding animals of superior quality, anC
kept them in high condition, confidently ex
pecting that they will be able to show bette
clip of Wool than their neighbors But thei
sheep miss the dry yards and warm shelte
provided for them by him who bred then
and within two years, yes, within a twelve
month"; the purchaser finds that the peculia
ineness and softness of the fleece has gon,
and he, perhaps, fancies there was some trick
cry on the part Of the seller, by which
was deceived, and that the wool was neye
in fact, as good as he thought it.
Farmers who have any reason to belev
that they have been imposed upon in this wa,
or who think that the quality of their woo
is deterioratng will do well to visit the foe
of some more successful breeder, and il the
find the care and management Of the latte
differs in any material respect from thei
own, it is but reasonable TO suspect that the
own is wrong.
The rayages of the curculo for the pa
few years, have almost discouraged all a
tempts TO raise plums. We gave in n reeer
number Of the Spectator remedy which ha
proved successful, Here is one which ha
been successfully tried in Vermont, and whic
has met with the approval of some intelEgen
fruit-growers -
" Five years in succession my plum tire,
blossomed, but the fruit was destroyed so c
tectunlly by eurculio that / did not obtai
one dozen plums. Becoming somewhat de
perale, L resolved TO head off the Turks (
destroy the trees. | had just emptied a ba
rel OF gas tar This | filled with waite
which in two days was dark-colored as cofTe
and pungent as creosote. On the first al
pearance of the curculio, with a small han
toreing-pnmp (which every gardener shoul
haye) gave the trees an eficctual drenchinl
and repeated il every three days for tw
weeks, but did not find plum stung after Ii
frst application. To my extreme satisfactio
there was such an abundance of fruit that
was necessary to place supports under Il
limbs to save the trees