664 [Assembly 



Mr. Lewis. The regular subject to day is wool. I call on Mr. 

 Flieschman to give us some remarks on it. 



Charles L. Fleischman. It required the experience of forty years 

 in Continental Europe, to obtain by slow gradual means a proper 

 staple. Manufacturers require certain qualities which have been at 

 last attained. There are nearly twenty different wool staples. These 

 are decided by the formation and curve of each wool hair. The 

 perfect staple is of even size, of cylindrical form from one end to 

 the other, and of regular curves, of which latter there are about 

 eighty in each w^ool hair. The length of that wool hair is about one 

 inch and an half. These hairs are measured by a peculiar instru- 

 ment in Germany, to determine their curves and length. The num- 

 ber of wool hairs on a square inch of the skin of a common country 

 sheep is about five thousand five hundred. On that of the tenth gene- 

 ration from the Merino cross, there are about eighteen thousand wool 

 hairs on the square inch. At the twentieth generation fine wool is 

 attained. This gives about twenty-seven thousand wool hairs to the 

 square inch. When the thirtieth generation is reached, from forty 

 to forty-eight thousand wool hairs. 



The common saying is that hunger makes fine wool. Poor pas- 

 ture causes wool to grow finer; then on rich pastures we see it grow 

 coarse again. The fine wooled sheep as you see them in these 

 drawings of mine, are deemed necessary to the production of large 

 fleeces and good ones. A proper knowledge of wool growing does 

 not exist in the United States. A convention ought to be held on 

 this subject, to bring together all knowledge. All the minutiae, even 

 to the shears for tnking off the fleece, for they are peculiar. The 

 whole business requires extensive information of a minute character, 

 as well as talents, vigilance, and perfect integrity in the men who 

 have the charge of the flocks, &c. 



Gen. Chandler, expressed the great obligations which he considered 

 we are under to Mr. Flieschman for his very valuable remarks, and 

 anticipated great pleasure in reading the work which Mr. Fliesch- 

 man is about to publish, which would be found of vast value to the 

 country. 



Mr. Flieschman, exhibited fine drawings made by himself, colored 

 the life, of some of the fine sheep on the farm of the celebrated 

 on Thaer. 



Subject for next meeting, wool continued, and planting of turnips. 

 Adjourned to Tuesday next, at noon. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



