JFool in Relation to Science with Practice. 
331 
up other kindred raw material. We can never disregard the 
importance of our great staple manufactures which so advan- 
tageously act and re-act on agriculture. It is interesting to 
observe that the wool manufacture, the spoilt child of English 
legislation, was never thoroughly happy and prosperous until it 
was left free to run alone and unaided : that freedom in the 
Colonies, in which we are all personally or relatively interested, 
induces practical men to expend, Avithout hesitation, 6000Z. in a 
single sheep-wash pool and its plant. We of the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society rejoice in the much-to-be-desired spirit of unity 
and co-operation which has promoted such Societies as that re- 
cently established in ]\ew South Wales,* and which promises 
valuable periodical contributions to agricultural literature. The 
political economist and student of history may further reflect 
upon the diversion of the stream of commercial transport, which 
was long ago revolutionised by maritime discovery and the 
mariner's compass, and is now again returning to its ancient 
channels by Alexandria, the Suez Canal, and the narrow seas. 
The ' Journal ' of the Statistical Society contains in the Quar- 
terly number, published in December 1870, a valuable paper by 
Mr. Hamilton " On Wool Supply." Unfortunately, unlike the 
statesman, the merchant, and the manufacturer, the English 
farmer, perhaps from the want of an organised educational 
system, does not, as a rule, duly appreciate the value of statistics : 
it is quite otherwise in Scotland and in America ; in the Report 
of the United States Commissioner of Agriculture for 1871, we 
find that the statistician of the department occupies with interest- 
ing and suggestive matter some 60 large pages. Tub-washed 
wool is a regular quotation. In 11 years, 1861—71, United States 
sheep increased from millions to 32 millions ; home-grown 
wool from 55 millions of lbs. to 128 millions : this dispro- 
portionate rate of increase in wool is attributed to care in breed- 
ing. The average fleece in 1850, 2-42 lbs. ; 1860, 2-73 lbs. ; 
1870, 3'51. For the average weight of the English fleece, see 
the most interesting estimate compared by me with various 
authorities, and which follows : " Estimate of British Home- 
Grown Wool." t 
Before arranging the statistics of my subject in the manner 
which I hope my readers will find most convenient and instruc- 
tive, I would make one or two extracts from Mr. Hamilton's 
statistical paper. The importation of 
Per cent. Per cent. 
Flax in 30 years has increased 25* Cotton in 30 years has increased 1 10" 
Silk „ „ „ 59- Wool „ „ „ 349- 
* I beg to thank Captain Jopp, of the N. S. W. Government Office in Loudon, 
for ready assistance. t See pp. 333 and 334. 
