Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-08-23
agricultural department.
SHEEP AND WOOL.

NSSH ~ 1880 WV ROJAHS " WIZ AS"t
it is gratifying to observe the increased
attention our farmers are giving to the
improvement of the first for mutton, and
of the second for the various requirements
of the manufacturer, and especially IN
the finer grades.
The past years clip of wool is esti-
mated at 58O,O0O,OOO lbs, and yet it
has not been found sufficient to supply
our factories, and an additional $4,000
900 lbs. have been imported for the
purpose. Surprising our sheep averaged
three and half pounds of wool per
head, it would require rather over A.
100000 more of them to supply what
we are now importing. But before these
could be added to our focks the rapid
increase of population would give US
many more persons to be fed and clothed
than now. Meanwhile, wooden fabrics
will be rapidly on the increase in vari-
ETY. and quantity, so that it may be
doubted whether our focks could be
brought up to meet all this within 20
years, however strenuous might be the
exertions of sheep breeders to accomplish
it.
The number of sheep in the United
States is estimated at 40,000,000. If
these could be doubled, or even raised
to l0O,000,000 by the year 1900, would
they be too many to supply our wants ?
By that time our wooden fabrics will be
so improved, that, as III the case of cot
ton fabrics, we may become large ex-
porters, and if so, we shall then want a
considerably larger proportion of wool
to our population than is now required.
We are also becoming greater consumers
of mutton than formerly, and smaller
eaters of pork; and this, with the ex-
portation of fat live sheep and their
dressed carcassses, will also more than
keep pace with their breeding.
An increased production of the finer
qualities Of wool is deserving of greater
attention on the part of fock-masters
among US. The Australians are proving
themselves highly enterprising in this
respect. From their recently improved
combing wool, the French manufacturers
fabricate those fine cashmeres and chal.
lis, which they readily sell as fast as
made, at extravagant prices. From the
Silesian and electoral woods grown il
various parts of Europe, shawls are
manufactured in France and Austria
worth from $3.50 to 5000 each. l pre-
sumo this wool Is of the same quality
and no finer or more suitable for the
above purpose, than that grown from
the Silesian focks kept for years pas
by Mr.. Chamberlain of New York, Mr.
Croskey of Ohio, and Mr.. Cockerell O
Tennessee. When | visited the late Mr.
Chamberlain at his farm at Red Hook
on the Hudson River, some % year.
ago, he informed me that his Silesian
were as hardy as Vermont Merinos, ant
they appeared to be so, and always sub
sequently when l have seen them
Messrs. Croskey and Cockerell sa,
the same of their focks; and as the,
are thrifty animals of good size, anC
grow large feeces, | can see no objection
to the rapid increase of such among us
but very much in favor of it. There i
no danger of superabundance of thi
kind of wool being produced in Amer
lea /; and if it were ever to be the case
our European market is always ready t
take it at high price.
A Worlds Fair of sheep and wool
to come off at Philadelphia next SEP
TENDER. We may expect great goo
I from this, if the live animals and tn
! fieeces of the best sorts of sheep are ez
4 hibited there from different quarters
: the globe. 1t will then be we'll wort
attending, and | hope as many of OF
flock masters as possible will make
appoint to do so and contribute liberall
of their products. A comparison (
such with others is the best method the
can possibly adopt to ascertain what wi
be best for them to breed hereafter fl
the two purposes of wool and mutton
Rural NeIU Yorker.