Wool in Relation to Science with Practice. 
311 
say that they do not fail to exercise the characteristic political 
virtue which is described in this phrase — "admirably outspoken." 
It is said a uniform manner of preparing United States' wools 
for the market is very desirable ; it would save trouble, and give 
character and stability to the business.* 
The Americans say, further, considering the importance of 
the combing-wool manufacture to England, it is surprising 
how little attention is given by agriculturists to the qualities 
or quantities of the wool produced. The American farmer is 
plain!}- told that it is not only interesting, but it pays him to 
know and understand the requirements of the wool manufacture. 
In the United States home-wool is the foundation of the home- 
wool manufacture, which clamours for more ! There at least 
it is understood and proclaimed, that mutual interest cordially 
unites the wool-manufacturer and the wool-grower. 
The Austrian official reports of the Vienna Exhibition of 
1873 remind us that England is the first manufacturing State of 
Europe ; and her manufactures of woollen goods are so important, 
that the mighty Island Empii-e is at the apex of this industry 
also. The wool growth of Europe is now superseded by the 
abundance of Australia, the Cape, and La Plata. A character- 
istic of wool is its transportability ; on an average, its price is 
twenty or twenty-five times as high as that of corn, hence trans- 
oceanic competition is easy, and the wool trade is an essential 
part of the commerce of the world. f It is calculated that England 
now annually consumes more than one fleece for every inhabitant : 
the consumption of wool is steadily increasing, and already 
quantities of so-called artificial wool are brought into use ; clean 
fleeces being required to work up this unstable shoddy. 
The general consumption of wool in England is said to be 
4^ lbs. per head of the population — some 3 lbs. per head in 
Germany. In Europe; there is no country but Russia which is 
capable of greatly developing in respect to quality and quantity 
the production of wool : London is the central market for the 
wool trade : auctions are held where buyers congregate from all 
parts of the world. England being the largest consumer of 
wool, the fluctuations of the European wool trade have from 
olden times depended on those of the English market. 
" The commercial movement of the wool trade in the leading 
states of Europe and the United States of North America for the 
year 1870, is exhibited in the following Table (p. 312). 
" As to the consumption of the most important European 
States, England, engaged in progressive development, and 
* Department of Agriculture, United States of America. ' Monthly Ecports.' 
Washington, 1873. 
t Professor Carl Eichter. ' Vienna Reports,' 1873. Part I., p. 795. 
