109 8 H E E P II U S B A i\ D K Y . 



Here may be aptly inserted the following articles from the February 

 niiinb( r of the Alhany " Cultivator," to assist the judgment of those 

 wlio would drcide on the best information as to the prospects for a 

 remunorating prion for the coarser kinds of lonrr wool. It will be seen 

 that under the influence of the present tarilf, and tlie j)robability ot' its 

 remaining for some time undisturbed, a large amount of capital is 

 finding its way to employment in woollen manufactures by the esta- 

 blishment of branches of it, hitherto unattempted in this country. 



" We have great pleasure in laying before our readers the follow- 

 ing letter from Samuel Lawrence, Esq., of Lowell, in answ^er to one 

 we addressed him, enclosing samples of wool from some Leicester 

 sheep, owned by Mr. Howard, associate editor of the Cultivator. It 

 will be seen from this letter that rapid advances are making in this 

 country in the manufacture of such goods as require long wool, such 

 as is produced by the breeds of sheep known as Cotswolds, Leices- 

 ters, Lincolnshires, &c. ; and that the increasing demand for this kind 

 of wool affords encouragement to the breeders of these sheep, which 

 thfy have not heretofore enjoyed. It will be seen, also, that Mr. S. 

 expresses great confidence in the belief that the prospects of the wool 

 grower are fully equal to those of any other branch of husbandry." 



" Lowell^ January 10, 1844. 

 " Editors of the Cultivator, 



" My numerous engagements at the opening of the year have pre- 

 vented an earlier reply to your respected favour of the 2:■^th ult. 



" I have examined the two samples of wool, and am of opinion that 

 they are admirably adapted to combing purposes for the manufac- 

 ture of Mouslin de Laines. The staple is long, strong, and lustrous, 

 qualities not desirable for felting purposes, especially the two latter. 

 I judge these samples to be from Colswold sheep, a breed which it 

 is very desirable to propagate in tfiis country, as the worsted business 

 is just coming into existence. The secret of England's advance of 

 all fhe world in the manufacture of worsted goods, lays in the fact of 

 her possessing better breeds of sheep for the production of combing 

 wools, and not from her superior skill in working them. 



" The worsted business, in its various shapes, is to be of immense im' 

 pnrtance in this country ; and it affords me sincere pleasure to be able 

 to say to you that it has already been comruencr.d in this State upon a 

 liberal scale, by parties whose iiienns and infel/igemce are a guaranty 

 of its success. A great deal of talent and skill have been brought to 

 bear upon this branch of industry; and if I am not greotly deceived, 

 the time is near when old England herself will be astonished at our 

 success. A number of hundred looms on mouslines are alrendy in 

 operation, and more in progress. In addition to the works already 

 projected, a company is 7iow being formed in Boston, with a capital 

 of a riiillion (f dollars, for loorks on mouslin de laines, f'<,c. 



" In reply to your inquiry about the kinds and qu .iitities of woo! 

 used in the Middlesex mills, I have to say that we use about a millioii 



