166 



THE SHEPHERD'S MANUAL. 



America. The average weight of fleece, the relative value of the 

 wool per pound (in American dollars and cents), and the yearly 

 income from each sheep, in wool, is given in the following table : 



TABLE OF THE PBODUCE AND PRICE OF WOOL AND YEA.RLY 

 VALUE OF THE FLEECE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES IN 1866. 



The most striking item in the above comparison is the greatly 

 larger annual revenue derived from each sheep in America than 

 elsewhere. When we take into account along with this, the lower 

 price of our lands, the American shepherd will be seen to have a 

 far more profitable business than that of any other sheep owner in 

 the world. Much of this advantage is doubtless due to the higher 

 prices received by the wool-grower through the operation of the 

 protective duties levied upon foreign wool. Some of it is cer- 

 tainly due to the greater weight of the fleece consequent upon the 

 improvement which has been made in our sheep. With two ex- 

 ceptions the average weight of American fleeces is the highest in 

 the list. But by far the greater advantage exists in the higher 

 comparative price of wool, which is only exceeded very slightly in 

 two instances, those of Spain and Germany, and in these countries 

 the bulk of the wool is of the finer sorts which bear a high market 

 value. The benefit accruing to wool-growers by the present tariff 

 is unmistakable, and although this is not the place to discuss the 

 question, it continuance would certainly seem to be very desirable. 



The following table gives the number of sheep, (omitting lambs), 

 enumerated in the decennial census reports of the United States 

 for the years named : 



