11 



and Leicester are excellent mutton breeds, they cannot but be a valuable stock 

 the farmer. This increased demand will be seen from our table of the re- 

 ceipts of live stock at New York, published in the last report — the number re- 

 ceived there in 1S64, showing an increase of 54 per cent, o^er that of 1863. 



The following letter cannot but be instructive ; and what it says in regard 

 to Saxony wool will command attention. In past years, when the country^was 

 •overstocked Avith British broadcloths, there was but a limited demand for this fine 

 wool. Its price was 60 cents, when the finer Spanish merino sold for 55 cents. 

 A Saxon sheep, at the best averages, did not yield more than 3J pounds per 

 head, whilst the Spanish produced 6 and 7 pounds. It is true, a greater num- 

 ber of the Saxony could be raised per acre than of the Spanish, but still the 

 Spanish was most profitable. Hence their increase and the decrease of the 

 Saxony. But, in future, fineness will determine the market value more than in 

 past years, because that quality will be used here more extensively ; foreign 

 broadcloths will not so press down the sales of the tine domestic cloths as to force 

 them from our own markets, as in past years, under the free-trade policy. 



With these encouraging prospects before the American wool-grower, he can- 

 not fail to find profit in a still further increase of his flocks. 



Providence, Rhode Island, 



February 13, 1865. 



Dear Sir: We return herewith your circular of December 20, 1864, with 

 our replies to your interrogatories, and we will add a word further. 



The increase in the production of avooI in this country is imperatively de- 

 manded by the manufacturing interest ; the increase of machinery for the 

 manufiicture of woollen goods having been so rapid in the past five years that 

 twice the amount of wool is now consumed by it than in 1860. The increase 

 of wool called for will apply to all grades, as none of them are fully supplied 

 by the domestic growth. The two extremes may be regarded as most sought 

 for at this time : the one, the fine Saxony ; the other, the long combing wools. 



The introduction of the fine long-wooled Merinoes has driven out and taken 

 the place of the fine Saxony; the latter in this country being much less now 

 than formerly, for the reason that the heavier fleeces are more profitable to the 

 farmer. We think the Saxony wool cannot be itiaterially increased until Ave 

 approach the point of producing nearly the amount of wool consumed by the 

 country. 



The Leicestershire or combing wool is groAvn in the United States but to a 

 limited extent, the worsted machinery now in operation here being supplied Avith 

 this description of avooI from Canada, the entire clip of Avhich is barely suflicient 

 to supply the machinery now in operation. This branch of the Avoollen manu- 

 facture is being largely increased by ucav mills, and by the enlargement of those 

 already established. American wools maynoAv be quoted at about -Si per pound 

 for the aA'erage, whilst the coarse Canada avooI, if rifnning largely to combing, 

 Avill command from Si 25 to 81 30 per pound, and have once sold this season for 

 •SI 45. With a present consumption equal to the entire clip of Canada, and 

 but a small quantity noAv groAvn in the United States, Ave think this kind of wool 

 offers more inducements to the wool-groAver than any other quality. Upon the 

 repeal of the reciprocity treaty with Canada, this avooI must pay a duty of 10 

 cents per pound, and 10 per centum at least, and to import it from England at 

 this time it will cost 80 cents per pound in gold, or $1 60 in currency. 



Fine Saxony aa^ooI is in A^ery small supply in the markets, and it is only 



