356 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



not being so harsh or so stubborn, does not injure the machinery so much. The thread spun 

 with it is also finer and truer. In the manufacture of fine goods, it is agreed that the pile 

 cannot be too soft or too silky, provided the strength of the fibre is not impaired. As well 

 as I could, I have compared the strength of a filament of alpaca with those of other wools, 

 and found it the strongest; and as it is devoid of that irregularity of surface, (the knots and 

 joints which some persons liken to those of a bamboo cane,) the cloth made from it must con- 

 sequently be less harsh to the touch. Another advantage consists in the greater weight of 

 the fleece, for it ranges from ten to twelve pounds ; whereas that of our full-grown sheep 

 seldom exceeds eight pounds, and in the small breeds from four pounds, downwards. From 

 the larger size of the animals, and the increased surface consequently covered, the alpaca 

 necessarily yields most wool ; and it has already been ascertained that on British pasture the 

 weight improves. At the Royal English Agricultural Show, held at Liverpool in July, 1844, 

 a sample of black wool was exhibited, taken from an alpaca belonging to the Earl of Derby's 

 flock, the staple of which appeared to be about a foot long, when his lordship's farm-agent 

 expressed his conviction that the same animal had then seventeen pounds upon its back. 



"Another material question is, Could the alpaca live in our country? Although delicate in 

 appearance, the alpaca is perhaps one of the hardiest animals of the creation. Nature has 

 provided him with a thick skin and a warm fleece, and as he never perspires, like the ordi- 

 nary sheep, he is not so susceptible of cold. 



"Another great advantage in the alpaca is, that he is not liable to the many diseases inci- 

 dental to common sheep, and which have so often raged like a pestilence among the tenants 

 of the Scotch hills. In Peru, where the circumstances are as near as possible alike, the 

 llama and alpaca are not hurt by changes of diet incidental to the seasons." 



Best Sheep for New England. 



THE following article, the result of carefully-conducted experiments, is communicated to 

 the Albany Cultivator by Lawrence Smith, of Middlefield, Mass. : 



It is the general opinion among farmers that large animals will consume as much more 

 food than small ones as their comparative weights differ. Should this argument prove true 

 with two animals of the same species, (which I think is very doubtful,) it would be a still 

 greater absurdity to suppose that the consuming powers could be determined by the weight of 

 so different species as the New Oxford and Merino. These two breeds have been trained for 

 different purposes one, for its thick coat of fine wool, without regarding its fattening pro- 

 pensities ; the other, for a heavy carcass, without so much attention to the quality of its wool. 

 I think, however, that according to food consumed, there is no breed of sheep which will pro- 

 duce more worth of wool than the New Oxford. A good flock will 'average 8 pounds easily, 

 and will readily sell for 80 cents per pound. 



The experiments between these two breeds have been very carefully and accurately con- 

 ducted, in the following manner: Selected ten Merino ewes, four years of age, in perfect 

 health ; also, at the same time, selected eight New Oxford ewes about the same age : had 

 them placed in comfortable quarters, and well watered. Commenced with each lot at the 

 same time ; weighed an equal amount of hay for each from the same place in the mow, 

 and continued the experiment for seven successive days, giving them hay enough so as to 

 have them leave a little every day. That which was left was weighed and credited to each 

 flock. The following result has been obtained: 



10 Merino ewes, weighing 769 pounds, consumed in seven days 160 pounds hay. 



8 New Oxford ewes, weighing 1068 pounds, consumed in the same time 140 " " 



From this experiment we learn that 9 New Oxford ewes, with an aggregate weight of 

 1201 pounds, consume no more food than 10 Merino ewes, weighing 769 pounds. The rela- 

 tive profits of these two breeds may be set down as follows : 



For the ten Merino ewes, 50 pounds wool, at 40 cents per pound $20.00 



8 lambs, at $1.50 each 12.00 



$32.00 



