28 SHEEl HUSBANDRl IN THE SOUTH, 



tity" and the " yolk" of the fleece, cannot be ascribed to the climate, iio) 

 to the feeding itself. It is undoubtedly owing to Mr. C.'s system of bree«^ 

 mg qnd selection, a point which will be fully discussed hereafter. 



If feed or condition exercise the principal influence on the fineness ol 

 wool (that is, \\dthin the range of variation to which it is subject on the 

 eame individuals), it follows that the effect may be produced in any climate, 

 for high condition throughout the year is attainal)le in the most rigorous 

 ones, by the supply of plentiful and rich food. The wool secretions are 

 incidei.t )n condition — fatness, however superinduced.* It again follows 

 that if wool of the highest degree of fineness (for the breed) can be pro- 

 duced in New- York, although the sheep is kept in a decidedly fat state 

 throughout the year — quite as fat as it would become, grazing on green 

 ^eed all the year round — that wool of equal fineness can be produced by 

 the observance of the same influencing conditions (apart from feed) by the 

 southern breeder. 



Here again, undetened by any considerations of what I deem a false 

 modesty, I shall offer facts founded on my own personal experience as a 

 sheep breeder ; and I would remark, once for all, that throughout the 

 whole of these letters I shall never so far prefer beliefs founded on the as- 

 seitions of others, to actual knowledge, based on facts repeatedly and con- 

 stantly brought under my personal inspection, for a number of years, as 

 to suppress the latter, to rely solely on the former, 



I have succeeded, in repeated instances, in producing an exquisite qual- 

 ity of wool, decidedly above the average of the breed (Merino) in the 

 heavy fleeces of sheep kept fat the year round. I have made it a sort of 

 a test latterly, in the selection of rams, to choose oiily those which not 

 only cany heavy fleeces, in any condition, but which, in the highest, yield 

 a wool equaling the choicest samples to be found on this variety. These 

 facts will, by and by, be placed in a definite and tangible form, by the re- 

 corded testimony of the scales and the microscope. 



But though the natural effects of warm climates and their incidents, Ic 

 increase the bulk or coarseness of the fibre, is one which can easily be re- 

 sisted, they work a change of another kind in the character of wool. They 

 cause a longer fibre and a greater softness of staple. The effect of succu- 

 lent nutriment during the year in increasing the amount of the wool will 

 exhibit itself; but the skill of the breeder can so far regulate its action, 

 that the increase is in the length, rather than in the diameter or bulk of the 

 fibres. It is not difficult to conjecture why a staple of more rapid growth, 

 supplied to excess with the secretions which enter into its comp )sition, un- 

 exposed to gi"eat and rapid variations of temperature, should retain a 

 greater degree of softness than one produced under opposite conditions. 

 But, whatever the causes of these phenomena, theii' existence is placed 

 beyond a doubt. 



The increased length of staple, resulting from the nutriment of wann 

 climates, has been sufficiently adverted to. The following statements made 

 by some of the most eminent wool-factors, staplers, etc. in England, before 

 a Committee of the House of Lords, in 1828, place the other point beyond 

 controversy.! 



Mr. Henry Hughes, wool-broker, London, says : 



* No one has asserted, eo far as I am informed, that diy feed wi!l produce less woo", than preen feed, if 

 Ike same degree of fatness is kept up. On the other hand, the rich cereal grains, oil-cake, &c. (withou: 

 nme of which a high degree of fKine.ss cannot be maintained, on dry feed alone, durinc the four or five 

 Months' winter in latirudes north of 42'"), might be supposed to be quite as conducive to lEe production of 

 moo\ as glasses. 



t For extended minutes of this ve.-;' interesting investifiation into the state of the wjol trade, &.c. Ac. to 

 Oi««t Britain, see Biflchoff on Wo.^l &c., vol. ii. p. IIH to 200. 



