National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-10

selection. Livingston estimated the weigat
Of Spanish fleeces mt five pounds for the eve
and eight for the ram. American Mefnos
render heavier fleece to the shearer, the
full-grown rams shearing fifteen to thirty
pounds and ewes from ten totweuty. The
average Of full.bloods must be at least
double the original weight Of the Spanish
piogenitors In this country.
THE MUTTON BREEDS.
While the Merino Is the prevailing type
In America, Germany, and Austria, In
South America and Australia, aud the pre-
dominant element In France, notwlthstand-
ing the necessity there for increase OF food
supplies, which hes led TO the Introduction
OF the English mutton breeds, the dense
population OF Great Britain and Holland
naturally favor the breeds distingulshable
for prollhcacy, early maturity, and aptitude
for rapid flesh taking. Our growing cities,
and their populous adjacent country, make
q profitable demand for fine early lambs
and rapidly grown and juicy mutton
meat Of superior flavor and toothsomeness
for which prices are paid much above the
average for mutton Of average wool-grow-
ing nocks. While II cannot be denied that
the so-called nation breeds, by virtue Of
feeding ana breeding through long periods,
have acquired q lesh-taking habit, aud de-
mand more abundant ration, and there.
fore make mutton Of superior quality, IL
is also true that cross-bred sheep, half Me-
limo, are producers Of mutton OF fine
quality, and Of early lambs capable Of ma
turing rapidly. The tendency appears to
be, as II has been In France, toward cross
bred sheep, English breeds upon the
Merino or native focks, rather than
TO depend upon full bloods for
mutton production. The numbers aud
cheapness Of Merinos render this course
desirable II not necessary. The course OF
sheep husbandry IN New Jersey, eastern
Pennsylvania, and ut other eastern points,
includes the annual purchase OF cocks from
western Pennsylvania, or from Ohio or
Michigan, the keeping OF the ewes for the
production OF cross.bred spring lambs Of
Southdown or Cotswold paternity, the fat.
tening OF wethers in the fields during
autumn for sale at Christmas, the sale III
limbs In spring, of eve lleeces in May or
June, and OF the fattened mothers later,
thus sending TO market wool, lamb, and
mutton within the year, keeping In motion
the nimble sixpence converting grass aud
roots and corn and labor into cash, fcrtlliz-
ing the soil, and usually making a fair
profit as en- inducement to the next years
operations.
With increase OF population there will be
increasing demand for mutton, which will
be accelerated when atteAtion is more gem
orally directed to the reproduction OF meat
OF superior quality and flavor.
There are those who insist upon the
opinion that the Merino is the best mutton
sheep, nut IL is probable that the largest
production OF wool may not be expected In
connection with the greatest production OF
meat until we shall be able to get the largest
amount Of milk and Of beef from the same
COW.
PRESENT EXTENT OF WOOL GROWING.
The estimated number OF sheep In the
United States, according to the statistical
returns Of the department OF agriculture in
January Of the present year, is 4S, 49,, 1881.
This is abUct six millions more than the re-
turns Of the census Of June, 1880, but re-
duction OF two millions since January, 1885,
in consequence Of the reduction In prices.
This industry, In the past, has been
peculiarly sensitive to change In values of
wool, increasing rapidly as prices advance,
and yielding TO encouragement as they de-
cline. In one year-1S6S---the records Of
the department Of agriculture show de-
struction Of four million sheep for their
skins and the fat yielded In rendering their
carcasses. This was in period Of world
wide depression In this industry far more
severe than the present reduction in value,
which, 1t is hoped, may be but temporary.
Between 1910 and 1860 the growth Of
sheep husbandry, IL not quite suspended,
was very slow-from 19,3ll,34 sheep In
1910 to "a ,423,2 200 In 1850 and % All ,275 in
1850. In twenty years the increase In num-
bers was only ID per cent, though the in
crease In wool was Al per C ent., showing
| gradual improvement in breeding. In
| twenty years more the number was nearly
doubled, the aggregate Of 1880 being
42, 1872 ,074, and the annual product Of wool
had increased from 5000, 900 to $40, 100000
| pounds. The product Of 1895 is estimated
at 30S ,0C0, 900 pounds. This is seven times
| hn nj Atf u ua
the population is now only three times as
much as In 1910. The fact is significant
that with fewer sheep In proportion to
| population, there is now twice as large a
supply OF wool per capita. 1t Ia a result
due mainly to breeding, yet somewhat TO
better care and feed 1t illustrates the pos
sibilities OF production by the application
OF science, skill, and enterprise to the pro-
cesses Of agriculture.
husbandry may not be popuarly appreci.
ated. 1t represented value last year Of
nearly $l0S, 900 In sheep. The capital
In lands and fixtures is many times larger
The value Of wool clip is $4,000, 900 a yeal
at the present low rates Of wool. 1t was
more last year and the year before. The
annual consumption Of mutton has value
Of about S25,0GO, 900, and of lambs some
$lO,0OO,OOO. Here is an annual product
from this industry Of $ll0,000,00O, NOR,
than the value Of the sheep at any ont
time.
All Of the wool Of the lamb, and nearly
all Of the mutton, is consumed In this coun
try, and In thirty years more than twice a
much wool and meat will be required. Il
is an industry that furnishes the material
the excuse OF existence, the prosperity, o.
another--that OF the manufacture Of wooler
goods, which gave employment In 1880 Il
IN
received s47,3s9,0S7 In wages, using ma
terials valued at $l64, 37l ,557, and made
product worth $267252,9 13. All thes
laborers have to be fed, and the wool grow
ers and other farmers must produce tn
food which they require.
The industry is otherwise OF great yalu
to agriculture. Sheep consume a ia
greater variety Of plants than cattle o
horses. They clear the farm o. weeds, ant
fertilize 1t with manure more concentrated
than that OF any other animal Of the farm
which is more evenly distributed, and NOR
available as top dressing to grass lands
They are found an essential element OF hus
bandry In Great Britain, where lands ar
worth hundreds of dollars per acre; AM
they are also valuable resource for utlliz
ing the grasses and plants OF waste place
and public lands, especially In rough an
mountainous areas inaccessible to large
domestic animals.
An industry necessary to clothe the pee
pie in material especially suited to the re
quirements Of a variable climate, wild
range of tempera ture, and sudden meteorc
logical changes, is of incalculable import
ance TO the health OF the country, the CO
pacity for labor, the power OF endurance
the longevity Of the people. II is q vlta
question 10 agriculture, to rural economy
to national prosperity and healthfulness.
PROPORTION OF FOREIGN WOOL USED.
The American people are better clothe
than those Of any other nation In th
world. The material cotton, wool, fax
and Silks manufactured there, except
L ~. II a...a