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Avhich a fleece yields, and the degree of fineness, constitutes its value, 

 Th3 quality of wool varies not only in different sheep, but in the same 

 fleece. The avooI on the sides of the neck, and over the shoulders, the 

 ribs and the back, is considered the finest. Together with the fineness of 

 the fibre, Ave examined the length and trueness of the staple — for the 

 more equal in quality the wool is on all parts of the body, the greater is 

 the value of the animal that carries it. 



"In connection with these qualities, the Committee gave the preference 

 to that which was soft and pliable and elastic. In the opinion of the 

 best judges, the fibre — or, as in the sheep dialect, 'the pile,' — cannot be 

 too soft and silky, provided the strength thereof is not impaired. It is 

 stated, that two packs of assorted wool being taken, possessing the same 

 degree of fineness, but the one having the soft quality in an eminent de- 

 gree, and the other being harsh, the cloth prepared from the first, at the 

 same expense, will be worth more to the manufacturer than the other by- 

 full twenty-five per cent. The color of the wool is of no trifling import- 

 ance. The sheep which gave the best samples of purity and whiteness 

 were preferred, and where other things Avere equal, the Committee re^ 

 garded the frame of the sheep, in forming their opinions. 



'•' The sheep of Mr. Atwood, of Waupun, possessed all these qualities— 

 and the weight of fleece, groAvn in less than a year, was thirteen pounds'. 

 Some sheep had the record of Aveightier fleeces, but for fineness, length, 

 purity, and softness, the premium sheep, in the opinion of the Committee, 

 excelled ; and yet the competition Avas so close as almost to defy any dis- 

 crimination. 



" To those Farmers who wish to cultivate sheep for their flesh, the Lei- 

 cester or Bakewell breed is probably the best. Specimens of this breed 

 were exhibited. For beauty and fullness of form, and weight of carcass, 

 and propensity to fatten, it is equalled by no other breed. 

 " The South Downs exhibited were beautiful sheep. 

 " Probably no country possesses advantages for the successful prosecu- 

 tion of sheep husbandry equal to the United States ; and, as one of those 

 States, Wisconsin, from its undulating surface, its fine herbage, and well- 

 watered pastures, sheltered by trees from the summer's sun, is Avell situ- 

 ated for the most prosperous culture of sheep. A Report to Parliament 

 of the state of sheep husbandry in the North American Provinces, prO' 

 nounced the texture of the wool from New Jersey sheep superior, in 

 almost every point of excellence, to that raised in Great Britain. 



