The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-02-19

on one Of our ranches, where the stock of sheep
at that time did not quite average two pounds Of
wool to the fleece. The new conner sired some
eighty-six lambs. ~forty-oue OF which were males,
and these by the time they were q year old Pro-
duced feeces that averaged eight pounds and
now, after a lapse OF about FIVE years, the whole
stock of the ranch containing many thousands
averages q little over four pounds to the fleece;
and all in consequence Of one hundred dollar
ram. The value Of such q creature increases in
a sort Of geometric ratio up to a certain limit
and as we have not reached that limit, we can
appreciate the importance Of introducing fine
stock into the country.
Our production of wool will be about 600 900
pounds for this year. from about 200 900 sheep.
And as we see that pasture is rapidly increasing
on islands suited for grazing, we may expect q
great increase Of wool. Notwithstanding our
tropical situation, our soil and climate seem most
admirably adapted to sheep. The most marvel
lous results are produced by the manienie or
Bermuda grass. This is one of the most valuable
gifts to our islands. 1t enables little Niihau.
with not more than &C, 200 acres-a large por-
ton of which must be beach and other rough
ground-to support in fairness q stock of over
60 900 sheep, and will no doubt enable it to sup
port over 100, 900 ell-conditioned animals. And
the sheep lands of Lanai, Molokai and Hawaii
are advancing in the same ratio of productiveness.
There is no doubt in our minds but that these
islands can comfortably take care of one million
sheep of the finest quality, whose feeces would
average six pounds, and give a product OF SIX
million pounds, worth at least 81, 200 900. one
million dollars of which would be proft;-and
then not encroach upon one acre of plantation
ground.
We believe the stock-men intend to try for
this result, and we have no doubt they Will at
tain it within a few years especially now that
they are ready to advance their surplus in buying
improved stock. We have had heretofore the
German merino, or Saxon-Escurial, first intro
duced into Germany by the patriotic Elector of
Saxony, Augustus Frederick; and the famous
French Rambouillet merinos have reached our
islands. But both these stocks, though very
superior, are of a delicacy of nature that does
not permit Of their thriving so well abroad as
the Spanish merino, now acclimated in America.
The first genuine Spanish merino, or Infantado
Murcian stock, were imported into America by
the United States Minister Humphreys at Madrid
in 1901. Since then the careful wool-growers OF
Vermont and other parts of the Union have de-
veloped a distinct and valuable American merino,
superior to the original stock. This will afford
us the best stock for improvement and increase.
Our government, were it equal to the enlighten-
ment of other lands, would provide for the i'm
p~ortation of choice breeds. The expense of a
circumlocution Office and of a do-nothing officer
would procure a good many valuable productive
animals but if it will procure a few more
working and prolific people who will stay in the
country, we will be still better satisfied. The
graziers will no doubt look out for their OWL
recuperation and ranch reovination (if we may
be allowed to coin a word); let the government
look out for repopulation. But mark this-tht
country is overstocked with human males; and i
the Ministers have only been employing an mini
grafton appropriation in order to increase THU
dangerous overstock, then let them beware.