Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-04-03
farm AND Fir gSEDE .
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W J VI III Z.
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Gen. Mems Reply to Col Washington.


Washington, Of Caroline county, in your
February number, TO know Sho sold my
wool last Spring, 1t gives me pleasure to
state that Messrs. Bullock & Munder. OF
Philadelphia, wool commission mcr-
chants, were the parties.
1t is a great mistake for any farmer
that's breeding sheep with improved
blood in them, not TO let regular wool
merchant sell his wool. The discrimi-
nation of the different grades in his clips
is made for him by this experience d
Judge, and he receives the benefit.
|. In my sale last Spring, the wool Ct
the half bred Cotswolds brought 4
cents, while that OF their mothers
Common sheep only brought p cents
in the market. | was only offered p
cents for my whole crop by the home
dealers, corroboratiEg the statement OF
Col. Washington, who only received .
cents. MeSsrs. Bullock < Munder.
when written TO, vii send to any on
the requisite bags 10 pack tic wool in
when sent TO them.
While on the subject Of wool, l am
satisfied that the farmers Of Virginia
know but little about its classification;
many of them, no doubt, shear supe'
rior article Of combing wool, and know
nothing Of its value. BY placing 1t in
the ands Of regular wool merchant
it is properly classified, and its value
obtained.
have been looking over Liverpool
wool circular made up to the lst Of
January. 1878, which is iull of valuable
information. and | beg leave to quote
what it says in regard to the different
classes.
IN order to form 4 correct estimate
Of the position OF the wool trade, it il
necessary to treat each section OF ii
SEPARATELY. There are three distinct
branches, which are distinguished as
% The clothing,
(2) Tie conbiug,
(}) The carpet and blanket,
auI although the terms are not alto
gethcr satisfactory, they are the best
which occur to Us. The first class COM
p!ises nil woods of the merino breed;
iu the second is included English wool,
molaiy. and alpaca. whilst coars,
Nooi>. suchs Z, are grown in the East
Indies. Russia. On the Danube IN
Turkey. aud III some parts Of Scotland.
come within the third" The first is
manufactured int0 mems wear chiefly.
The second, into ladies dress goods and
such articles where the luslre Of the
WOOL, retained; the third speaks for
itself. Tie combing wool commands
the highest price generally, Is much
more in demand. because scarcer and
more oft can be grown oa the sheep
The Combiug woods of the United States
come Nom tie imported English sheep
and their crosses with the common
sheep OF the Countrywide most deslra-
bic of which, it is we'll known ARE OF the
long wool breeds.
also quote from letter written 10
me BY Messrs. Bullock * Number Oh
February 18th.
AS regards the wool market and
prices. the agitation Of the tariA and the
silver bill has unsettled values Of all
kinds. Woods Of the character Of yours
are the woods that have helu their price
and to-day We sold 10000 pounds un-
washed Virginia combins at 80 cents
cash. Merlno ieces are neglected, and
fully 5 10 cents lower than they were
five months since. Cembing woels.
well grown and carefully cotton up. are
wanted. 1t is very important to keep
them free of burrs. chaff and dung lOcks.'
hope the information will be Of
service. l cannot let the opportunity
pass without saying something IN regard
10 the early lamb business Of Eastern
Virginia, and in doing so. | quote a
paragraph from Col. WashingtOn's
paper. God has given to Underwater
Virginia climate unsurpassed for sheep
raising. and preferred her by sixty days
in lamb raising, and poorly has she
utilized it,"
There Is no doubt about it that
Tidewater Virginia and many of the
Piedmont counties should control this
early amb business, and make it
source Of immense profit as well as
pleasure. lis adaptation to the growth
ofthe carly grasses. and its genial eli
mate. makes this branch OF tia specially.
The LONG winters of the Valley will
never permit Us to go into the early
lamo market except at too great cost. -
In the first place. our ewes are not in
cined to take the buck in a general way
before the lst of October, and a January
lamb with US means almost death to the
eve. unless she is most carefully shell
tered and strongly fed with grain; this
makes the early lamb cost too much with
us. for if he goes to the April market.
be never sees grass.
Therefore we Of the Valley must rely
upon wool and mutton. Let me just
here call the attention Of early lamb
growers 10 the necessity Of docking and
castrating all lambs at an early age;
even if there should be some loss. it
will more than be repaid by the i'm
proved appearance and rapidity with
which the weathered lamS will fatten.
And now. sir. letme wind I'D this little