578 



MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



law ! Every negro I have owns one, and I own 



thirteen, sir." 



The choice tliroaghout all these States 

 seems as between sheep and dogs, to let 

 the latter go and feed upon the former ad libi- 

 tum. 



The celebrated John Randolph inculcated 

 special contempt for sheep, by stating on some 

 occasion in his place in Congress that he would 

 at any time " go out of his way to kick a sheep !" 

 and that so much more truly great and useful 

 benefactor of American husbandry, the late 

 Col. John Taylor of Caroline, Virginia, whose 

 portrait and memoir -we yet hope to give to our 

 readers, dedicated chapters of his Arator to the 

 denunciation of this harmless, docile and useful 

 animal — what wonder then that sheep should 

 still be, as it were, under the ban ofthe.se States 

 and their communities continue to send abroad 

 immense sums of money for what all circum- 

 stances seem to invite them to supply for them- 

 selves ? What -wonder that it is deemed better 

 policy to forego this source of easy income alto- 

 gether, and to pay for transporting their wool to 

 New-England and the cloth back again ; in 

 stead of selling the wool to tlie manufacturer 

 with provisions also to feed him on the spot ? 



We could excuse this, as it seems to us, dog-- 

 ged obstinacy or infatuation, if it were founded 

 on a genuine redeeming love for the pure-blood- 

 ed of the canine race — from that love which 

 prompted the last words of the son of Lord El- 

 lenboro', when looking up to him for the last time 

 he added : " And father, you'll take care of poor 

 Pincher, won 't you ?" 



But shame to say, the noblest is confounded 

 with the basest of his race, nay the vilest cur 

 without one drop of high or gentle blood is kept 

 mo.st especially in the eye of the timeserving 

 legislator, who, for sake of his o^vn popularity 

 would allow to run at large every mongrel 

 that comes into the world, to the disgrace and 

 exclusion of the well-bred dog, and to the detri- 

 ment of the States mentioned, to the amount of 

 millions annually. 



Are we not a glorious people ? and are not 

 farmers and planters of all others least apt to be 

 sheared of their substance, by non-producing 

 patriots ! What is the proportion which is real- 

 ly paid by them, to make up the life-pay and the 

 overgrown fortunes of men, in and out of the ar- 

 mies and navies of the world ? Officers and con- 

 tractors, who batten and fatten on the " pomp 

 and circumstance of glorious war !" And this tax 

 (of more than 300,000,000, since the last War] 

 being levied indirectly, is paid wilh'ngly, for — 

 , good oesy souls, they never suspect it — "They 

 know not what they do !" 



On the wool imported from the United States 

 into England, the following remarks occur in a 

 late report on the wool trade of that country : 

 - (1238) 



United States.— The importfrom this quar- 

 ter affords a striking proof of the beneficial effect 

 of the remission of the wool duty. It has ex- 

 cited great interest and surprise in "the trade, and 

 may be considered the greatest novelty of the 

 year. The quantity received to this period, as 

 an experiment, exceeds 3,800 bales, comprising 

 a great vai-iety of qualities. It is to be regretted 

 that the unfavorable turn of trade has been 

 against the operation. In washing and pre- 

 paring the wools sufficient pains have not been 

 taken ; aud there is want of discrimination in 

 the selection of qualities. So far as used they 

 have been highly approved : and we have full 

 confidence that, if got up with care, they would 

 be highly esteemed in this countrj-. The Ameri- 

 can prairies afford peculiar advantages for the 

 growth of wool; and we believe this branch of 

 the trade will become one of great and increas- 

 ing importance. 



Peruvian and Alpacca. — Till within the last 

 few months the supply of sheep's wool was 

 limited. It is now increased, but the demand is 

 restricted at rather declining prices of late. The 

 imports of Alpacca have been rather large. There 

 are no means of ascertaining the exact quantity, 

 but a careful investigation leads us to estimate 

 it at about 18,000 ballots of 80 lbs. each. It must 

 be borne in mind that, during 1844. great diffi- 

 culties attended the shipment, aud the apparent 

 excess of 1845 represents a portion of the pre- 

 vious jear's clip. For the first six months there 

 vi-as great activity, and consumers bought freely 

 for arrival. The demand has since been heavy, 

 at almost nominal prices. The high rates abroad 

 render it probable that considerable loss will 

 attend the import. 



The Egg trade of Cincinnati. — We copy 

 fi-om the Cincinnati Gazette the following statis- 

 tics of the Egg trade of that city, from which it 

 appears that the business in that fragile commo- 

 dity is quite an item in the sum of her produc- 

 tive industry. 

 Shipments from Cincinnati the 



past year, 963,000 doz. 



Annual city consumption, 1,213,333 " 



Total number of eggs brought to 



Cincinnati market 2,176,333 doz. 



or twenty-six million, one hundred and fif- 

 teen thousand, nine hundred and nineiy-stx 

 eggs. 



This certainly shows a very commendable de- 

 gree of industry on the part of the Buckeye and 

 Hoosier hens, as well as praiseworthy care in 

 their owners and others in gathering up the 

 product and bringing it to market. 



A farther recapitulation shows tlie following 

 results as to value : 

 Value of 10,700 barrels of Eggs 

 shipped from this port, at $8 : 44| 

 per bbl. $90,361 : 50 



Value of 1,213,333 dozen eggs con- 

 sumed in this city, at 8 cents per 

 dozen, 97,066:64 



Total annual value of the Egg trade 

 of Cincinnati, $187,428:14 



One hundred and eighty-seven thousand, 

 fov.r hundred and twenty eight dollars, and 

 fourteen cents ! 



The Cincinnati eggs principally go to New- 

 Orleans. 



