Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-25
why we should Grow wool aud
Mutton,

Mutton.
The consumption of wool in the United
States is far ahead of its production GER
tain market is therefore offered for all we can
produce. For several years past, the opera
ton of tariff has rendered the market for
our wool steady and profitable to the growers
and has helped, if it has not induced, ex-
tension of sheep culture beyond any prece-
dent and at the same time greatly encourag
ed the wooden manufacture. The growth of
wool and its manufacture into various fabrics,
are necessarily closely related industries, and
one hourshes or suffers with the other. At
the present time, wooden manufactures
surpass in excellence those of any other coun-
try The Centennial Exhibition proved this.
The finest broadcloth there was made in the
State of Maine, but it is notifying to us TO
have to confess that the wool brought
from Silesia. while we are as well able to grow
it as The German farmers. The American
cassimeres were not cXccllod by any foreign
countries these ure made from American
fine to medium or merino wool. American
hannels are better than similar European fab
RIGS, because they are made from American
wool, which is better than any we could i'm
port for this purpose. Our blankets are
perior to any foreign ones those made in
California and Minnesota surpassed any 9TH
ers that were shown at the Centennial and
the Minnesota blankets are actually exported
to Europe for use in railroad sleeping cars.
American knit goods of the best quality are
made from our combng woods. A most beau
tiful fabric, the America India shawl, is
made from our finest long wool. Our worsted
fabrics, delaines and cashmeres, made
from our home grown woods but our alpacas
are made from English combing wool These
last mentioned goods are so eXcellently made
that they are excluding foreign fabricS. and
are helping to turn the balance Of trade greatly
in our favor, ,-L6ne mill used for these goods
lO,0HLfhSeeces weekly. For the first time in
uu history, our national flag is made of
american grown Cotswold WOOL as are also
y the fashionable bunting goods for ladies dress
= es In carpets we excel the long famed Eng
lsh manufactures. Over 100 factories in
Philadelphia, alone, making carpets, and
others are at work in scores of villages and
towns Ingram, which has two colors in n
line ''three-ply," which has three tapes
try which is printed Brussels" which is
dyed in the yarn wilton" ''tapestry-vel-
vet,'' and Administer" which are all velvet
all these are now made in this country and
sold so cheaply that almost every house in the
whole land has carpets upon its floors Last
ly, the worsted coatings, with which men
of all degrees and professions are clothed, are
chiefly made from our home grown medium
wools and were it not for the foolish fashion
which induces persons to choose cloths of
professedly foreign make-but for the most
part really home made-we should rarely see
any but an American brand upon all our wool
en- piece goods
These facts convey an important lesson to
the farmer If he wishes to keep sheep he
need not long consider which kind he should
select Any kind Of drOOL WW find a market
The coarse, short carpet woods of the poor
Texan and low grade sheep; the medium
wool of the South Downs, and the half and
quarter merinos; the fine short and long
combing merno woods the very fine Silesia
woods; the long woods of the Lincoln and
Cotswod; all these are used and wanted, and
none of them come amiss to the manufacturer.
But it must be kept in mind that the best
sheep is one that produces both wool and
good mutton. Mutton is now becoming a sta
pie article of food in America; 2j,OOO to 30
900 sheep and lambs sold every week in
the New York city markets. Therefore sheep
that will produce good carcass of mutton is
the kind to be chosen, irrespective of its fleece.
by the general farmer. The sheep ranges of
the West will produce wool without regard to
mutton, because this is most easily transport
ed. No product of the farm is so cheaply car
ried in proportion to its value, as wool. 500
worth of wool is carried from Chicago or st.
Louis to New York for 81 while to transport
the same value of beef the same distance costs
$50; of pork, $50 and of corn $50.
These figures will help to give one an ade-
quate idea of the stable and permanent char
acter of the wool growing industry, and of its
certain proftabeness. We might strengthen
the force of these by reference to the advan-
tages gained by farming in the way of i'm
proved cultivation, and the increasing fertili-
ty of the farm through sheep culture. OF
these we cannot now speak, but they are by
no means unworthy of regard nor do they
admit of any question as to their certain eff
fectveness 1t is enough now to show that
the farmer has certain market for whatever
kind of wool he may grow, if it is good of its
kind, and that the mutton is as readily salable
rs the wool.-AmeTicdn A9riGuIturist.