426 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Sept. 



THE W^OOL CROP OF 1860. 



The Sliipping List of the 8th inst., in speaking 

 of the wool crop, says : — 



We have several times alluded to the high 

 prices paid for the new clip in the producing dis- 

 stricts, and the following from Walter Brown's 

 New York Circular of August 1, confirms our 

 statements made at the time, as follows : — "The 

 month of July has been characterized by an un- 

 precedented competition in the producing dis- 

 ti-icts; so great has been the eagerness among 

 buyers to secure a portion of the clip, that in 

 many instances far above the real value of the 

 wool was paid, and in some particular cases, sev- 

 eral cents per pound higher than the ruling prices 

 in the Eastern markets for the same grades. This 

 ii-regularity arises from the disposition on the 

 parst of some agents to secure their commissions, 

 regardless of the interests of their employers ; 

 very much to the injury and disadvantage of more 

 judicious purchasers. It also operates directly 

 against the more liberal and enterprising growers, 

 for these variations are almost always on lots of 

 low and ill-bred wools. From all the information 

 we have obtained, it would appear, that the aver- 

 age price which has been paid for the clip through- 

 out the country will range from 1^ to 2c per. lb. 

 above that of 1859. In this State the average 

 is thought to be fully 2c above last year, and in 

 Ohio the excess is quite as great. In some locali- 

 ties wool was picked up in smaller lots at prices 

 quite as low as last season, and in some very 

 early districts, perhaps even lower. It_ remains 

 to be seen whether or not the markets will justify 

 this advance. To yield our dealers even a fair 

 commission for handling the wool, the ruling fig- 

 ures must be from 3 to oc above the average prices 

 obtained last season. During the month,_ prices 

 of such desirable domestic wools as remained in 

 market, both fleece and pulled, advanced from 2 

 to 3c per lb., and with very few exceptions these 

 lots Avere taken by consumers ; and about the 

 same advance on last year's prices has also been 

 realized on some lots of new wool. As the pros- 

 pects for fine crops throughout the entire West 

 are very flattering, and the promises for a good 

 Fall and Spring trade quite encouraging, and as 

 our Woolen Mills are all running, we may look 

 for an active season in the raw material. The fact 

 that so many of our manufacturers Avere willing 

 to go forward to the country and pay high prices 

 for a year or a half a year's stock of wool, is an 

 evidence of their confidence in the future demand 

 for their goods, which, though somewhat at vari- 

 ance with the impression which has heretofore 

 recently prevailed as to the remunerating charac- 

 ter of that important branch of industry, is never- 

 theless very gratifying." 



The Cattle Disease. — Inquiries are frequent- 

 ly made of us in relation to the cattle disease ; 

 as to what its present condition is. We have the 

 pleasure to state that very,few new cases are re- 

 ported to the Commissioners, and that the prob- 

 ability is that there v.ill not be many during the 

 summer months. We learn, from various sour- 

 ces, that where the disease has raged in Europe, 



it shows itself but little during the summer sea- 

 son. It will be exceedingly fortunate for us if it 

 does not assume a new type as the cold weather 

 approaches. 



The Hon. Adam Ferguson, a distinguished 

 farmer at Woodhull, Canada West, in writing to 

 Mr. Secretary Johnson, of the N. Y. State Socie- 

 ty, says : "The Massachusetts Legislature have 

 done themselves great credit ; and the trading 

 public are greatly indebted to you all, delegates, 

 &c. My friend, D. Henderson, is professor of 

 Pathology in the University of Edinburgh, and 

 is in high medical practice. He assured me that 

 Aconite was used as a specific, if given in time, 

 before the lungs were seriously affected, and that 

 he had saved scores of valuable cows." A watch- 

 ful prudence, we trust, will prompt all to be cara- 

 ful, however little they think they may be ex- 

 posed. 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES, 



THE CROPS IN AVINDSOK COUNTY, VERMONT. 



I frequently see accounts of the crops in various sec- 

 tions oftlio country, and I tliought some of your read- 

 ers might 1)0 interested to hear about the crops, &c., in 

 Vermont, especially iu Windsor county. As it was very 

 dry through the months of April and May, people gen- 

 ci'ally anticipated a light crop of liay and grains, but 

 the wet weather through June and July lias allayed 

 our fears. Hay, so tar as I have had opportunity to 

 know in this section, will bo an average. We are now 

 in the midst of our haying. Wheat, oats and barley 

 promise good crops. Corn and potatoes look well. We 

 shall get a larger crop of fruit than wo have for several 

 years. Apple and plum trees arc well loaded and an 

 abundance of cherries. We have frequent rains which 

 keqj the ground moist, so that vegetation comes for- 

 ward very rapidly and retards haying, but the grass is 

 gi'cen and growing yet. 



Can you, or any of your correspondents, inform me 

 where the genume Norway Rag Scythe Stone can be 

 obtained, and at what price per dozen ? 



Andover, Vt., July 30, 1860. G. W, Putnam. 



Remarks. — Wc have inquired of Nourse & Co. for 

 the Rag Stone, but they have none on hand at present. 

 The price is from 75 cents to one dollar per dozen. 



CULTURE OF AVHEAT. 



Wheat will grow in Massachusetts as well as else- 

 where. Of this I had ocular demonstration on the 

 grounds of Gen. Wm. Sutton, bordering on Aborn 

 Street, this morning, Aug. 1. His crop now stands full 

 five feet high on an average, with heads as plump and 

 well filled as can be desired. No blight or insects of 

 any kind about it. Should nothing occur to injure the 

 crop, I should say the prospect was fair for thirty 

 bushels to the acre. The seed was raised on the same 

 land last year from some that grew in California. The 

 lesson I draw from this culture is, be sure to obtain 

 good seed, and you can be certain of a good ci'op. If 

 any one douljts this, let them examine the field. 



Aug. 1, 1860. _ p. 



Will yon inform me what is the best preparation 

 sold for the manuring of dwarf pears, peaches, cher- 

 ries, grapes and strawbeiTies ? and is it advisable to 

 use any one article for the various kinds named above ? 



Aug. 2, 1860. D. w. h. 



Remarks. — We cannot infoi-m "D. W. H." as to 



what special manure is best suited to the particular 

 plants he names. The best manure is undoubtedly the 



