Vol. IV. 



NEW ENGLAND FAR3IER. 



37:5 



Frem the American Farmer. 



WOOL. 



[In the last volume of the American Fanner, no- 

 tice was given that we had sent to manufacturers 

 in the Eastern states, for their opinion of their re- 

 lative fineness anil value, some samples of fine 

 wool from the flock of Mr Jolin McDovvell,s Jr. 

 near Steubenville, Ohio, togctlier with some from 

 the backs of as many of the higii priced Saxony 

 sheep which were sold at Erig-hton, on the 14th 

 July, 1C5"2.5, without giving any clue whereby they 

 should distinguish the domestic samples from 

 those of foreign growth. Mr. McDowell's flock, 

 It will be recollected, is derived from tliat of Mr. 

 W. 11. Dickinson. His samples were lettered D, 

 E, F, and those from the imported Saxony shee]) 

 were numbered 1, '-i, 3. One of the letters receiv- 

 ed in answer to our inquiries, is subjoined ; and 

 wlien it is seen to be from Mr. James Shep- 

 herd, the proprietor of the celebrated manufactory 

 at Northampton, it will inspire the confidence 

 whicli is due to his known judgment and experi- 

 ence, and will be found, moreover, to contain some 

 valaable and very striking practical suggestions 

 as to the connection between the weight and the 

 ralut of a fleece, and on both as connected with 

 the conditiun of tlio sheep. The experience of 

 Mr. Sheplierd will remind the reader of the remark 

 of Dr. Parry, that "a sheep which is fat, has usual- 

 ly comparatively coarse wool ; and one which is 

 lean, either from want of food or disease, has tlie 

 finest wool ; and the very same sheep may, at 

 different times, according to these circumstances, 

 have fleeces of all the intermediate qualities from 

 extreme fineness to comparative coarseness."] 



J. S. Ski."(neb, Esq., JVorthampton, Jan. 4, 1826. 



Sir. — Your letter of tlie 30 of last month, I have 

 received, covering six samples of fine wool, re- 

 questing me to determine their relative value. — 

 For nie to do that correctly, it would be necessary 

 to consider each lock as from a pile of as- 

 sorted wool ; for to estimate the value of wool in 

 tlie fleece, it is necessary, if there be a number of 

 fleeces, to examine them one by one, and estimate 

 upon an average ; but if it be a single fleece, then 

 three samples taken from the fleece would answer, 

 one from tlic shoulder, one from the side, and one 

 from the flank. In tlie samples of the wool sent, 

 tliere is twenty-five per cent, difference in clean- 

 liness, in favour of letters D, E, and F, the value 

 of wliish I shall estimate as follows, (calling each 

 sample as from a fleece well washed upon the sheep, 

 and of general uniformity.) Letter D, 1(X) cents; 

 E, 90 cents ; F, 70 cents. Nos. 1, 2, and 3, 1 shall 

 also estimate in the same manner, after making 

 allowance for its unusual length of staple, which 

 I presume is owing to its being over a twelve- 

 months' growth, which, if otherwise, would be 

 against its value. 



No. 3, 00 cents ; No. 9. 75 cents ; and No. 1, 

 CO cents — which last appears to be from two dif- 

 ferent parts of the fleece, and one of them from the 

 flank. The sample No. 1, 2, and 3, I should 

 judge to be from imported Saxon sheep ; but they 

 are by no means the first rate samples, as I will 

 show you by samples enclosed, from my own full 

 blood Saxon sheep. I have also enclosed samples 

 from half and three-quarter blood Saxon sheep, 

 and fill! blood Spanisli, upon which the Saxons 

 have been crossed. It ought to be remembered 

 tftat the raising of superior bucks, for improving 

 Qur breed of fine .sheep, is not unlike that of rais- 1 



ing a superior stud for the improvement of that 1 PROGRESS OF CODFISH, SOCTIIWARD 



most valuable animal the l.orso, as the number off Some weeks since we mentioned ti..it several 

 citlier ot the animals is small that are valuable for i Codfish had been cauglit off' the Capes of Vir^-inia 

 nnproving their breeds. To obtain il,c most per- ! The following extract from Dr. Mease's edu°on of 

 lect sheep, is m the first place to have its wool of [ u 'I'he Wonders of iSature and Art," would st-m 

 the finest kind and short staple ; next to that is : to shew that the progress of tliese fish has been 

 the uniformity of its fleece, and to have a fine | regularly and gradually southward. « Cod abounds 

 uniform fleece, and a good form. The form and 1 upon our coast. The progress of this fish upon 

 size of the animal is important ; but to have a ' the Coast of North America, is curious. At the 

 sheep with a mulfled tace and head, and the legs | first discovery of tlie Northern Continent of Ameri- 

 covered with wool is of no importance— for the | ca, few or no Codfish were found to the south- 

 manufacturer docs not wish for the wool that | ward of the Banks of Newfoundland and Sable 

 grows upon the head or legs ; but that which \ island. About 35 or 40 years ago, they were first 

 grows on the body is the most desirable : hence it ' discovered ofi" Sandy Hook in the vicinity of New- 

 is tliat the animal with a clean velvet face and legs, j York. It has been observed, that ever since that 

 a long and large body, witli short and fine wool on time, they have gradually become more and more 

 the flanks, is the most valuable ; and when obtain- abundant on the fishing ground of the Neversinlt 

 ed, can never fail of commanding a price. Out of in six, seven, and eight f.itiioms water, and per- 

 the many sheep that I have raised, I have only haps equally so many miles furllier eastward. A 

 one of tiiat character, for which $250 has been of-: few years since they appeared about the Capes 

 fered without effecting a purchase. I have also a | of the Delaware Bay ihoi'gh i;i comparatively 

 full blood Saxon buck and ewe, tlie samples of small quantities, and it is said, that tlicy have been 

 wliich you have enclosed, (Nos. 32 and 121,) which) caught on Onimioteague Slioals, in lat. 38. on the 

 I value Iiighly for tlieir fineness and uniformity. — ' Coast of Muryl;i!Rl. From tliose facts it seems 

 And here I would remark, and refer to the sain- probable, that Uiu Codfish is gradually progressing 

 pies, that no buck of tlie same quality and over , southward, anJ i.i time may, peiliaps, be caughl 

 one year old, will ever give so fine a fleece as aj along the whole extent of the Coast of the United 

 ewe of equal quality from one to six years old, j States. Hence '.\c may conclude that they origi- 

 imless the ewe be witliout lamb and fat ; for all ■ nally inhabited the Banks of Newfoundland, 

 sheep give coarser fleeces in proportion to their , whence, on account of their prodigious increase, 

 condition ; and I estimate the fleece of a ewe in \ they annually push out colonies in every direction 

 good order, weighing three pounds, of as much ' wliere sustenance can be procured." — Vol. \\ p. 



value as that of one in high order, weighing four i 78. Philadelphia, 18C7 JVbrfolk Herald. 



pounds. All sheep require to bo kept in good 

 order, and a flock of ewes from three years and 

 upwards will then yield, upon an average, tlirec 

 pounds each of clean washed wool ; and wethers 

 of the same age and condition will sliear four 

 pounds eacli 



MINING SPECULATION. 

 In England the Chilian Mining Company has 

 been broken up. Lord Teynham said he had as- 

 certained that mining in S. America was all non- 

 and any advance in weight beyond | sense, and had heard that in mining districts the 



roads were filled with drunken Englishmen and 

 Scotchmen. 



There is a prospect of a fine harvest in Eng- 

 land. 



that, (in my opinion,) tends to diminish the value 

 of the wool in about tlie same proportion as the 

 weight is increased. Hence it is, tiiat I value the 

 fleeces of three pounds as much as the one from 

 a fat ewe weighing four pounds, and even more ; 



and from the above remarks, I wish to be under- j 



stood, that any attempts to increase the value of 1 NEW EMETIC. 



the shearing of a flock by over-feeding, must fail; It cannot be too generally known that the best 



in tlie cstmation of all manufacturers tliat under- that can be administered to persons who have 



stand their business. The keeping of sheep fat taken poison, in causing its ejection from the 



not only increases the size and length of the sta- stomacli, is a strong mixture of soap and water, 



pie of wool, but it increases the oil and yolk of given in as large quantities as possible. 



the animal, which greatly increases the weight of 



the wool, oil, &,c. without adding to its value. 

 Yours, with respect, JAMES SHEPHERD. 



POISONS. 



A memoir has been read before the Academy of 

 Medicine at Paris, giving an account of a series of 

 experiments made by Dr Barry, by which he as- 

 certained — 1st, that the immediate application of 

 a cupping-glass to a poisoned wound will prevent 

 the absorption of the poison ; 2d, that a cupping- 

 glass, applied even after the poison has begun to 

 be absorbed, will arrest the progress of the ab- 

 sorption ; and 3d, that after the cupping-glass has 

 remained a certain time, the poison may be re- 

 moved from the surface, and all unpleasant con- 

 sequences averted, by simply washing the part 

 with a little water. 



Strawberries are usually 3 or 4 cents a quart at 

 Alexandria. They are so fruitful in good seasons, 

 and so easily cultivated, that they ought not long 

 to be dear any where. 



An alderman, after a turtle feast, does does not 

 sleep half so sound as a day laborer, after a mess 

 of oat meal porridge. 



The proprietors of Grand-street, N. York, pro- 

 pose to plant each side of it with trees. This 

 street is up-town a mile or more, is wide, and ex- 

 tends from the North River to the East River. 



MAPLE SUGAR. 

 There was this season extracted and manufactured 

 from the Forest Tree, 36,000 lbs. of this useful and 

 wholesome article — besides 1700 gallons of Molasses, 

 in a new but flourishing settlement in Liberty town- 

 ship, Tioga County, Pa. comprising in the whole about 

 ninety families, and occupying a little circle of not 

 more than five miles in extent. The average price of 

 sugar is 8 cents per pound ; and of Molasses 50 cents 

 per gallon — thus bringing into circulation in this little 

 district, 3,730 dollars, and done in the space of about 

 six weeks. Those who read this will judge of the iffl- 

 portance of this article.— Penn. pa. 



