The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-07-18

market OF LOIluoH, do WCh @ eIld "
BOSTON. This may not be pleasant to.
nontpmplate, but we must be ready for
Ans iuncture of affairs, for it will surely
come soon; we are now importing, | be-
1--we. scarcely $4,000, 900 pounds of
nlothinn wool per annum How can we
No hest prepared for the new condition
If fittings? Plainly by a more thorough
knowledge of our business. we must,
if nossible, grow our woods at a less cost.
The all-important point to be gained,
however. is the production Of wool, here
in Montana, that shall, from its superior
on9lity and condition, tax the lead in
the American market. Our wool is to-
dav worth 2OM2S cents in Boston, while
Australian and New Zealand woods are
worth from 4O045 cents. Australia may
he a more favored spot for growing wool
than Montana, but [ doubt it. | find
here those subtle infuences-whether
thev spring from the soil, the water OF
the atmosphere-that produce the softest
and most brilliant clothing WOODS. l
know, from the fact that u WOODS lead
all other territorial WOODS in the market,
although this was the last OF the terri
tories to commence wool growing, mat
nature has kindly given US advantages
that she has withheld from other Sec
mons OF tIllS COItllICkU. iCiSSt ehSAf
arises the wide difference between the
Fnolish colonial wool referred to and
the wool of Montana? Clearly from the
difference in breeding and i'll the man
npr of preparing the wool for market.
In buving sheep we are too apt TO put
them all in the same scale OF prices
coarse. medium and fine. With too
MANY Of us it is a question OF numbe
instead of quality. We recognize but
little difference between mOngrels ana
the pure descendants of the importatlons
of Humphreys & Jarvis. We commence
breeding up and then we breed back 70
where we started from, each grower
breeding "on his own hook" regardless
Of what his neighbors are doing. Inc
result is, that III the same district you
will hardly find two clips of WOOL at al
alike: and in the same flock are all
GRADES, from the soft, beautiful AAA
wool down to a coarse, froWsy neece, -"
only for low carpet filing. Inc average
Australian wool grower - constantly
improving his bands by theInosC caTelui
selection. The whole world is rahsacked
for the choicest and hardest strains ~
merino blood. Vermont annually 1uf-
nishes q large number OF the very peso
stock rams for English breeders whose
ranrhos are ten thousand miles distant.
They have thoroughly tested the differ
emit tvpes of merino sheep, and they OBJ
tain the best. regardless Of cost. Can we
wonder. then, that the English colonial
wool growers have built up, during the
present century such amagnlhcent wool
Industry in Australasia? XIf we would
hr;nU Montana wool to the very front
rank at the eastern seaboard and create
p brisk demand at paying prices III the
facA of the competition of the best wool
w of foreign countries, we must
improve its quality by adopting rules OF
breeding and of flock management mere
tofore unknown among us. we must
weed out our inferior sheep as fast as we
can and send them to the
The best we must improve by lntrouuc-
ING the choicest blood. Fortunately we
have in our own country, IN the eastern
states, q type of merino sheep that tands
second to none in the world, from Wnlcn
we can obtain, at reasonable prices, SUCK
suitable for the highest improvement>oI
our focks.f
The geographical position OF Montana,
with ample railroad facilities near at
hand, renders it probable that om mock
owners will make the p~foductlon OF
nation the leading object. To such L
would saw, adopt that type Of mutton
sheen that YOU believe to be best fitted
TO this territory, and breed higher and
HIGHER in that particular class. Merlno
sheen. however, will maintain their su-
premacy in the pastoral districts OF North
America. and especially in Montana,
where their wool can be brought to SO
high a point of excellence. 1t is to me-
rino sheen, then, and a higher grade or
wool that we must look for h mantle
nance of our sheep industry on a pro1lt-
able basis in the near future. YOU may
ask. Can we continue with safety 70
breed our focks for a long time to merino
rams. and will they not, by high breed
ing, become weak and unprontaple II
consequence Of our severe winters?
While fully aware that the p~reValllhg
opinion is against q long continued
breeding to merlno STOCK, l am o. VIZ
opinion that from this time we should
never breed to anything else. Meflno
sheep have SO far adapted themselves 70
the climate of every wool foducihS
country where they have been lntfo-
duced, and / believe Anew years more
will satisfy us all that Montana IS no eN-
ception to the rule. Our climate anu
method of handling sheep in Wlnterl ma
peratively demand that we selecl stfolis,
hardy sheen Of whatever type. Our
merino rams should be 2 enllrely,
free from wrinkles, and should carry oil
sufficient only for healthJJ, sound wool.
Let me advise you, when you so east, V
buy thoroughbred merlno rams, 20 ciose
yolr ears against the seductive, plausible
arguments OF many anu New
York breeders who would make you De
H. ~ - l,,n, ~ nnnd GhQ1lId he