1848 



GENESEE FARMER. 



155 



ting woo!, the growers may meet and compare views, com- 

 rauiii(;aie and receive information concerning the improve- 

 ments each liave made, and from the books of the agent 

 determine, from the sorting of dillerent Ihtcks, and ilie prices 

 »bt..ineil for each, vvliich is most prolitaltle, and also where 

 those Hocks, wliich produce tiie stylo or wool they wish 

 to grow, arc to be Ibund. Other duiies may prevent the 

 farmer from bestowing as much time as is nece>>ary to 

 procure that information wluch is essential lo heioiue a 

 successful grower of wool. It very naturally fails v\itliiii 

 the range or the duties of the agentof a d(!pot to collect j'ist 

 that kind of information most needed by the wool grower ; 

 and his interest being identified with theirs, he can have 

 no motive for withholding that information. I would here 

 stop to ask the wo(jl growers jjresent, how much real avail- 

 able information liave you received within the last ten 

 years from that large class of wool buyers who are usually 

 known by the name of agents, speculators or dealers ? Un- 

 less your experience is different from those with whom 1 

 have conversed, you will admit that greater facilities are 

 offered, under the depot system, to procure just that kind of 

 information which may at once be made available in the 

 suceessful prosecution of the wool growing business, than 

 have been heretofore enjoyed. 



[t m:iy readily be seen from what has been said, that in 

 order to ensure a successful prosecutiou of the Depot sys- 

 tem large quantities of wool must be deposited in one place ; 

 for unless this he the case a sufficient quantity of each sort 

 cannot be obiained to m-ike it worth the attention of the 

 manufacturer to visit the Depot and make his own purchases. 

 — Again, sumU establishments would only increase rnther 

 than diminish the evils resulting from competition in selling, 

 for it is apparent that if a large number of individuals have 

 an article of the same kind to dispose of, the desire lo effect 

 a sale would create a competition among the sellers that 

 would not exist if the sale of the whole was lo be made by 

 one man. In tiie latter case the competition is with the 

 buyers, in the former with the sellers ; for the uncertainty 

 iifanrilher call from a buyeroften operates as an inducement 

 to close a sale at a less price than they believe the article 

 to be worth. 



The question will naturally arise, will the manufacturer 

 approve of this system in making his purchases ? Knowing 

 them to be a i-,hrevvd, cautions, aud persevering class of 

 business men, always ready to act upon the principle of 

 purchasing where they can buy cheapest, and selling where 

 best prici's can be obtained, before deciding upon the feasi- 

 bility of the Depot system, 1 visited many of the most prom- 

 inent manufacturing establishments, and after presenting 

 the object I had in view, received from them assurances 

 that it met with their cordial approbation. I also received 

 from them much valual)le information in rejiard to the 

 relative value of their sorts, the adaptation of the various 

 styles rtud qualities of wool to the different kinds of goods 

 manufactured, which it would have been difficult to obtain 

 from any other source. 



Did time permit, I could here present extracts from »iKmer- 

 i»is letters received from them, expressing their strong des- 

 ire that the enterprize should be laidertaken. 



Dr. Bkekman being called on to address the meeting, 

 said — I was greatly gratified when Mr. Blanchard received 

 the invitation from the Society to spread his ideas respec- 

 ting the sale of wool before ihis meeting. The subject is 

 of deep interest to the farmer, for tho' he may grow good 

 wool as much as he pleases, if he cannot sell his wool at 

 natisfactury rates, he might belter quit raising. I have 

 been engaged fir about twenty five years in raising wool. 

 There was a diflicully peculiar to the stale of the country, 

 in matnrinsr a proper plan to afford the wool grower a fair 

 remuneartion ; and when [ first engaged, I was placed in 

 the dilemma of n^jt knowing the best market or the real 

 value. I engaged a person whom [ thousiht in every way 

 competent to select, and who professed fully to understand 

 his business, to choose for me, and the selections were 

 thought to be good. There was a good share of merino 

 blood, and out of four or five hundred sheep, some sixty or 

 seventy were taken. When the time for shearing arrived, 

 the man vva^ left to himself to do all. I paid him so much 

 a head, and when I went to ihe barn to see how the shear- 

 ing was (lone, I found a quantity of wool — a number of 

 pound.v scattered about. The shearing harl been done care- 

 lessly and the wool wasted ; but I presumed that, this was 

 the regular mode, and thtt nobody was in fault. I took 

 the word of the man, being myself unacquainted with the 

 business. 1 took the wool to the agent, who was making 



purchases, and he made remarks which were rather un- * 

 pleasant about its quality — the manner of washing and of 

 shearing — and yet I thought perhaps the man was right. I 

 thought I had taken care in selecting, but it appeared that 

 I had got into the wrong flock. The man got the wool at 

 his own price, as I was unacquainted with its real value. 

 It was for the agent's interest to get it as cheap as he could, 

 and he succeeded. The whole subject was in uncertainty 

 — ihe wool manufacturers wcj;fe few — there was no regu- 

 hirity— many of us were unacquainted with ihe prices, and 

 there was much imposition, in reference to the value of the 

 different Hocks. The prices prevalent at the good markets 

 iwere but partially heard and known, and the end was that 

 he farmers were grossly imposed upon. I knew a man 

 who had a very excellent flock, the wool from which was 

 worth at least 40c. He sold to one of these ngenls for a 

 little over SOc, because he was nol conversant with its 

 value. The agent, by traducing the wool, succeeded in 

 getting it at his own price. He secured it— made the bar- 

 gain firm, and then impudently told the man hewas a great 

 fool to sell at that price— the wool is worth more, but the 

 bargain is made and you cannot get out of it. 



I tried to think of another plan ; and after great reflection, 

 I thought, if we could find some man, who knew ihe value 

 of wool, and what prices were paid— a man of good judg- 

 ment and of sound sense— the manufacturer might get a 

 better bargain, and the farmer a better remuneration. The 

 farmers were not conversant with these things— they re- 

 ceived their informatiun from the proprietors of the manu- 

 facturing establishments. I believed a system could be 

 commenced, which would benefit all the parties to the 

 wool trade. 



The machinery of the manufacturer is made for different 

 grades ; but he does not want to go to a farmer for a dozen 

 difttrent sorts. All flocks have diflerent grades, from fine 

 to coarse ; and the establishment of a depot such as Mr. 

 Blanchard has described, seemed to present a place where 

 the farmer could bring his wool, and receive the best prices ; 

 where the tarilTof jirices would be well known ; where the 

 wool would he assorted atid arranged ; and where the man- 

 ufecturer could get what he wanted without buying ihree 

 or four times vwre than he required. The success has been 

 most gratifying. The manufacturers go there, instead of 

 going about among the farmers. They come there to buy, 

 for they are sure of finding an assortment. It transfers the 

 competition from the farmers to the manufacturers. There 

 is often an uneasy desire lo sell among the growers, even 

 if they make their sale at less than the current price, while 

 by the accumulation at the depot, the manufacturers are 

 there to compete with each other, and secure to the form- 

 er the very best prices. 



There is another topic I would touch upon in connexion 

 with this subject, Mr. Chairman, and I have done. As 

 events are progressing it cannot be long before we shall 

 begin to throw back upon Europe, for the immense quan- 

 tities of wool slie has heretofore sent us, our returns of the 

 same article. The quantities imported into this country 

 from abroad, have for the last few years, been gradually 

 lessening and we are now about upon an equipoise. Ac- 

 cording to tho course of trade and judging of the extent of 

 our territory, and our improvement in agriculture, we shall 

 soon have wool to spare, and we shall be called upon to aid 

 in clothing the inhabitants of Europe, as we now aid to 

 feed them. We must become exporters of the article and 

 to send it abroad as it comes from the lofts of the farmer, 

 coarse and fine, mixed, clean and unclean, will only lead 

 to imposition and losses. The wool must he carefully ex- 

 amined and sorted, the different qualities separated and 

 numbered, and after undergoing this process it will be ready 

 for the European market. Orders will be received from 

 thence for particular qualities and numbers, and it will be 

 only when we have thus systematized the work that we 

 will be ready to obey their orders. Now, who will be so 

 competent to fill up tliese orders as the proprietor of a Wool 

 Depot, who has the different qualities on hand ready for 

 just such a call? It appears, therefore, a competition for 

 the article between the manufacturers of our own country ' 

 and those from abroad. Ry sending wool to a Depot it 

 enables the farmer to realize the intermediate profits be- 

 tween himself and the manufacturer, which would other- 

 wise go to some half dozen intermediate agents. 



Fruit.— The prospects now are that there will be an a- 

 hundance of fruit in all this region. Every descriptiom has 

 blossomed in great profusion. — Buff. Com. Adv. 



