290 SHEEP HUSBANDRY TN THE SOUTH. 



cation of these principles to wool when received direct from the grower, that had never be- 

 fore in this country been applied in the same discriminating manner, and with as little 

 expense as by this system." 



The objects and advantages of the system, and the method of conduct- 

 ing these establishments are clearly set forth in the following letter from 

 my friend Mr. Peters, to whom, as a keeper of one of these Depots, and & 

 gentleman of conceded ability as well as skill, energy and su;cesa 

 \n this and in his other business operations I thought it appropriate to 

 apply for this information. 



H. S. RANDALL, Esq. BUFFALO. N. Y., Dec. 16, 1847. 



My Dear Sir: Your kind favor of the 12th inst., making inquiries relative to the Wool 

 Dpot system, is before me. 



It will give me pleasure to answer your queries, not that by so doing I can add anything 

 to the exceeding great value of your Letters to the whole country, ajid especially to the 

 South and West yet from my own experience as a wool-grower, and in the management 

 of a Wool Depot which I established at this place last spring, I may give some information 

 that will be useful to your readers, and may they be millions. In so doing, I will give you 

 1st, An account of the object; 2d, The method of doing business ; and 3d, The advantages 

 of the Wool Depot system. 



THE OBJECT. Upon no sheep is the wool exactly alike over the whole body ; nor is the 

 wool exactly alike upon any single flock. In most flocks there is a great diversity greater 

 than there should be for the farmer's profit. There is, then, a variety of grades of wool in 

 every flock, and in every section of the country where wool is grown. 



Manufacturers first grade the wool ; that is, sort the fleeces, making from five to eight or 

 nine different grades. Bach fleece is then opened, and stapled, or sorted into the various 

 grades of the factoiy. Some manufactories use only the finest, others only the coarsest, and 

 others again use only one kind of the intermediate sorts, so that from' a single flock, I 

 sold this year wool to five different manufacturers, no one wanting or working the kind that 

 the other wanted. 



The object of the Wool Depot .is to sort and arrange the wool, that the manufacturer can 

 readily obtain the particular kind adapted to his machinery, and to obtain for each sort its 

 fair market value. 



METHOD OF DOING BUSINESS. The system originated with Mr. H. Blanchard, at Kinder- 

 hook, some three years ago. Last year, we sent our wool to Mr. Blanchard, and during the 

 winter I visited his establishment, and was so well satisfied with the operation of it, and 

 of the vital importance of the system to the wool-growers everywhere, that I at once made 

 arrangements to open one at this point. I accordingly commenced operalions in the spring, 

 and have been successful beyond my most sanguine expectations. 



I have a competent and experienced sorter, and when wool is sent in, it is at once sorted 

 in the fleece, each sort weighed, and entered in a book under the name of the person send- 

 ing it. 



I have adopted Mr. Blanchard's method of sorting, as experience has shown that to be the 

 best, under all circumstances. I make, then, five sorts, taking full-blooded Merino for No. 

 1, and grading down to coarse common wool, which is No. 5. Saxony I grade into Extra, 

 Prime 1, and Prime 2. Then there is a kind of wool which is admirable for combing, and 

 another kind that is wanted for De Lairies ; these form five more sorts, making thus ten 

 sorts. But as there is such a difference in the condition of wool when brought into the 

 Depot, I usually make two 'sorts of each number. Thus I have No. 2, and No. 2 A. No. 2 

 is usually good, but No. 2 A is of the same grade, but is in bet. v er coalition, every way * 

 choice article, but still not fine enough to go into a higher grade. The wool is actually 

 worth two or three cents per Ib. more than the other number to which it belongs, and but 

 fc>r making this distinction, would not bring its full value. When the wool is properly sorted, 

 it is piled up in a manner that will enable the-purchaser to see it at a good advantage ; in- 

 sured, an:l held until the market requires it. I make all my sales here, and for cash 

 When the sales are closed, an account is made out and sent to those who have sent me their 

 wool; usually, an account is rendered as fast as any part of a man's wool is sold. I have 

 often been asked, how I could tell whether any man's wool was sold, unless the whole of a 

 eort was sold at a time. It is very easy. Suppose A. has 100 Ibs. of No. 1, and I have sold 

 20,000 Ibs. out of 40,000 Ibs. that being the whole amount in the Depot. I have sold one- 

 aalf of each man's No. 1, and I turn to A.'s account and give him credit for 50 Ibs. sold, and 

 su go through and credit each man with his proportion of that number sold. 



The charges are, for receiving, sorting, and selling, one cent per Ib. , and the insurance 

 which is usually about 30 cts. on $100, for three months. Cartage from the dock is usually 

 tlr'ee cents per bale. The sacks are returned or sold at the option of the owner. They are 



