The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-10-31

In answer to the question, "Shall Nler.
inc growers stick to their sheep, or ex-
change them with other breeds, or aban-
don sheep husbandry altogethcr?" DR..
Randall gives, in the Rural Ne,c Yorker
the following sensible reply.
There is no doubt that the interests of
individuals and the public require an ex-
tension of mutton aud long wool produc.
ton, and the rapid extension which has
taken place since the enactment of the
tariff Of 1868 has proceeded on the solid
basis of demand and supply. And there
is margin yet to be filled in the supply.
1t does not yet meet the demand. The
tariff of 1867 came to build up the coarse
WOO! and thereby the mutton interests !;
it only came to save the fine wool inter-
est from impending destruction. 1t found
the domestic supply Of combing woods
wholly inadequate to meet the domestic
demand-but a handful. 80 to speak, of
combing wool sheep in the country-and
no excess of foreign competition to squeeze
down prices. On the other hand, it
found the country overstocked with wool
ems sufficient to keep down prices for two
or three years, the supply of fine woods
Of the quality chiefly consumed exceeding
the existing demand, and foreign CON-
petition (fostcred to enormous dimensions
by our war demand) so excessive that the
foreign grower, shut out by our tariff, was
compelled to glut the markets of Europe
with wool at prices uuremunerative to
himself, but which enable the European
manufacturer to compete with tho Amer
lean manufacturer to an extent which still
injuriously affected the price Of our do.
mestic 6ue woods.
This state of things was necessarily
transient one, if the wool and wooden tar.
if continued to stand-for the foreign
grower would not and could not continue
to produce woods without profit He kept
up the struggle, however, in the hope that
our tariff would, as usual, be soon repeal
ed or modified, The skin wool evasion,
until twas stopped, gave him a strong
CLEAN Of hope, and prolonged the strug-
gle. But the signs now are that it is be-
ginning to draw close.
By the above general and very many
minor incidental causes, the mutual re-
lations of prices between coarse and fine
woods have been upset. Coarse woods
have received an unprecedented ascend
ancy in prices. And the multitude, as
usual. are ready to believe that what has
been sup" in the market for two or three
years will always be up..and what is down
will stay down. Consequently there is
mania for English sheep, and the fancy is
widely entertained by that floating mass
Of specializing farmers who always chase
the last new thing and ride the latest
new hobby, that the Merino is to be who'll
ly superseded by the mutton sheep in this
country-that the former is played out
What would be the value of mutton in
our markets if all the sheep in our coun.
try were mutton sheep? What would be
the price Of combing woods, if our whole
product was combing woods? The last
question becomes more significant when
We consider that the consumption of comb.
ing wool reaches only about one-fifth the
consumption of clothing WOOL
If the wool and wooden tariff stands,
both industries will ultimately flourish,
and they will assimilate nearer together
in profit as the proportion of supply
to the demand in each assimilates. There
is room for both. Essentially there is no
competition between them. Nay, we be-.
lieve they aid each other.
We will not answer our first question:
Shall Merino growers stick to their
sheep 2" We would not stick to them un.
der the circumstances clearly the most
favorable to mutton sheep, nor would we
stick to mutton sheep under circumstances
clearly the most favorable to Merino
sheep. Under no conditions would we
sacrifice really choice sheep of either breed
Especially would We not do it in the case
Of the Merino. Choice mutton sheep can
at any time be imported from Eng land.
The hardy, heavy.wooled American Mer.
ino-which it has taken fifty years Of
careful improvement to form and establish
which is so peculiarly adapted to our
climate and wants, if allowed to become
extinct, could not be re.supplied from any
other country, and its loss would be an
irreparable one. If wool continues to be
adequately protected, the time is not dis.
taut when all our choice Merino flock will
be needed to breed rams for the great
wool.growing Aocks Of the West and South
and for innumerable smaller Aocks in all
portions of our country.
Butter Washed and Unwashed.
H.. Al