RHEEP ITUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH 93 



opinion mainly on his own expeiience in manufactnring broad and other 

 rloths of fine quality. . In these, the shrinkage of the wool from lh<! fleece 

 is concededly at least half. And the firm, well finished and honestly made 

 Oriskany cloths, I have no doubt require the highest rate of shrinkage in 

 the stock. But Mr. D. concedes that a "pound of fieece wool will make a 

 yard of sheep's gray of medium quality." Now the Welsh plain, of the 

 quality of the sample, weighs 13 oz. per yard. As 1 have already stated, 

 "the ordinary weight of the sheep's gray is from the weight of the Welsh 

 plain to 16 oz. pei- yaid." Thus a yard of "medium" sheep's gray out- 

 weighs a yard of the Welsh plain. If this is so, the former, of course, re- 

 quires the greatest amount of stock, the mere width making no difference 

 whatever. Mr. Dexter was led into this error, evidently, by overesti- 

 mating the weight of the Welsh plains — and this arose from the smallness 

 of the sample submitted for his inspection. 



His statement of the cost of manufacturing broadcloths by the Oriskany 

 Company is entitled, I have no doubt, to the fullest reliance. In conse- 

 (juence of his remarks on this topic I have changed a statement in the 

 preceding part of this letter alluded to by him, for fear it might convey an 

 erroneous idea. Where I spoke of " existing establishments declaring 

 dividends o'i fifteen per cent.," I have changed it, so that it now rc.ds 

 " from ten to ffteen per cent.," these being the dividends, respectively of 

 the Oriskany and Middlesex* Companies last year, and exhibiting ab 'U 

 the range, probably, •f well-managed companies. 



' Nr. Ltirreace'i grea; eatabMihinent at Level!, which wcke up 1,700,000 lbs. sf wool per annaBi. 



