44G Teaxsactions of the Amerwak Ikstitxjte. 



Ireland and Scotland contained in 1865-6, 25,700,000 sheep, their 

 total number of square miles being 115,686 ; less by 11,000 

 than Illinois and Missouri. Tlie onlj remedy for cheap wool and 

 mutton is for farmers to form joint stock companies, and establish 

 woolen factories, manufacture their own cloths, and thereby make an 

 effort to consume their mutton at home on the prairies, instead of 

 paying freight and commission on their stock east and paying a heavy 

 commission and transportation on their manufactured goods. Estab- 

 lish a factory or two in every 'County, sliares of $100 each or more, 

 according to the capitalists of the section. There would be very 

 little casli recpiired to run the establishment, as the farmers could 

 raise their own wool, and in return could become good customers, 

 and defy opposition, as self-interest would 'induce them to consume 

 the product of their own manufactures. There are strong induce- 

 ments to a move of tliis kind, a high tariff, cheap wool, cheap mutton, 

 low price of breadstufis, and high priced woolen goods. There was 

 an argument used recently by one of our largest woolen manufacturers 

 in Canada against a high tariff. It w^as that such a tariff gave 

 inducements to every one to engage in manufactures, and the conse- 

 cpience was a sti'ong home competition, which reduced the profits. He 

 was in favor of low tariff. Tlien onlv large capitalists could engage in 

 the business and make a profit. We are in the hands of large manu- 

 facturers in Canada, and have been for a long time, but the sun will 

 rise even here after awhile." 



Mr. J. B. Lyman. — Our friend from Canada is somewliat in error 

 in supposing that the establisliment of factories in cert^iin localities 

 will do much to regulate the wool market. It would have been true 

 thirty years ago. But steam has done mucli to cliange all tliat. As 

 a rule, fine wools will be produced on remote and cheap lands, while 

 rich sections, near cities and railroads, will do better witli slieep, 

 whose mutton has fine flavor, which fatten easily, and yield an inferior 

 fleece. Manufactories will no longer go where the raw material is 

 produced, and it will be of little use for farmers to unite in an effort 

 to establish little woolen mills in order to coerce large cai)italists. 

 In such a contest the few rich men will outwit the many operating 

 with'small sums. In Ontario county the true polic}^ will be to pro- 

 duce mutton, and leave fineness of fleece to remoter regions. 



^ Hops and Hop-Poles. 



Mr. Warren Ferris, East Worcester, Otsego county, N. Y., writes 

 about the hop, and recommends the plan or patent of Olindorf for 



