■“Uicktock," were quite extensively grown in 
the United Statep, before the tariff of 1*10 over¬ 
threw our broadcloth manufactures and the pro¬ 
duction of the wools adapted to them. Jle i 
declared that he used and fully tested these 
wools, and that they were as pood in every 
particular, worked into as perfect and li ills tied 
cloth, ns wools of the same fineness grown in 
auy other country. Ho allowed this Important 
testimony to be taken down In writing In his 
presence, with permission to use it aB should be 
eeen fit. . , , , 
Iu regard to the special properties of Ameri¬ 
can medium pnd grade wools, we have equally 
con cl usive testimony. The following sentences 
are from a recent document signed by Erastus 
It. Bigelow and «T, Wiley Edmunds, of Boston, 
Mu™; Theodore 8. Faxton, of Utica, N. 1 •; 
Edward Harris, of Woonsocitet, R. If 8. ”♦ 
C’attell, of Philadelphia; N. Kingsbury, of Hart¬ 
ford, Conn.: and Theodore l'otnroy, of Spring- 
field, Maes., now as distinguished manufacturers 
of different kinds of woolen fabrics as there arc 
tu the United States, and selected, on account 
of that eminence, to constitute the present 
Executive Committee of the “ National Associ¬ 
ation of Wool Manufacturers." After mention¬ 
ing the amount of woollen goods manufactured 
in the United States for the year ending June 
BO, 1 Mi, they proceed to say: 
“ The country has not Only gained by the ad¬ 
dition of this large sum to tho-national resources, 
hut has been greatly benefited by the superiority 
of American fabrics. In a class of fabrics, en¬ 
tering perhaps more largely than any other Into 
general consumption — that of llannels—the 
superiority due principally to the admirable 
adaptation of the common wools of this country, 
their strength and spinning qualities Is so 
marked as almost wholly to exclude the foreign 
flannels. American fancy cassi meres compare 
favorably in finish, flueneed, aud strength, with 
those imported. Our delaines, owing again, in 
Ji great measure, to the excellence of our merino 
combing wool, surpass the fabrics of Bradford 
at the same price. The excellence of American 
shawls was admitted at the Great Exhibition iu 
London." 
And they subsequently add: 
4< It lias been the experience of all nations, that 
the domestic supply of this raw material has 
been the first, aud always the chief, dependence 
warmth and equability of the climate render his 
necessary clothing of little cost. In short, al 
his material modes of life arc as rude and unex 
necessary clothing of little cost. In short, all 
,40,20?,s«l 
5,736,363 
17,401.200 
23,951 .506 
10,103, ssil 
Dollars. 
027,718 
588,403 
091,780 
940,407 
1,274,172 
1,2*6,811 
1,785,331 
888,850 
2,577,705 
3,018,131 
2,283,013 
L'ts. per lb. 
10,5 
10.8 
12.0 
Estimated 
at.. 13.0 
Total 130,960,688 10,401,470 13.0 
The following table embraces the same par¬ 
ticulars in relation to the wool exported to the 
United States, during the same period from the 
British Possessions in Africa: 
been the first, aud always the chief, dependence 
of its manufactures, and tlic peculiar character 
of this material has Impressed itself upon the 
fabrics which each country has produced. T hus, 
in the fine wools of tiaxony and Bilcsla. wc have 
the source of German broadcloths; In the comb¬ 
ing wools of England, the worsteds ot Bradford; 
and, in the long merino wools of France, the 
■origin of her thfbets and cashmeres. The pecu¬ 
liar excellencies of American wools have given 
origin to our llanuels, our cassimeres, our 
shawls, and our delaines; and they give strength 
and soundness to all the fabrics into which they 
enter.” 
In the class of very coarse wools — carpet 
wools—such as Donskoi, Cordova, and Valparai¬ 
so, the United States could unquestionably pro¬ 
duce them in their greatest perfection, were it 
profitable for us to grow them. But it is not 
usual to raise rye ori land which will yield an 
equal amount of wheat. 
COMPETING WOOLS. 
The principal wools, except combing wools, 
competing with those of the United States are 
grown in the Argentine Republic, South Africa, 
Australia, New Zealand, and Russia. Those of 
the Argentine Republic ure grown in Buenos 
Ayres, and are usually kuowu, collectively, in 
commerce under the name of Mestiza wools. 
They are classed ns Merino and Mestiza Nos. 1, 
If aud 3. “Merino 1 ' ranks in fineness with our 
“Saxony; 11 Mesttxa No. 1 and No. 3with the 
two highest, grades of American Merino; Meat!- 
>.a No. 3 with our grade and common wools. 
The Mestiza wools possess good felting proper¬ 
ties, but all of them lack the soundness and 
strength of American w ools. Some of our muu- 
■ufaclurers of eassimeros, doeskins, Ac., use 
them exclusively, but more generally American 
wool is mixed with them sulUeientlyto compose 
half the warp, in order to make it spin ana en¬ 
counter the other processes of manufacture 
without breaking. In plain broadcloth, the 
whole warp is one-third; In twilled broadcloth, 
as forty-five to llfly-flvc; in doeskins, u little 
more thau half. 
While it is conceded that the intimate incor¬ 
poration of the fibers which takes place in a 
thorough process of felting, leaves the doth less 
dependent upon the direct strength of Its threads 
thau Is the case with worsteds and like fabrics, 
it would be contrary to every principle of phys 
les to suppose that, a weak wool will make as 
throng cloth, or, other thiugs being equal, one 
possessing as good muring qualities, as a mate¬ 
rially Stronger wool. Tt. i* not claimed that 
Mestiza wool possesses any counterbalancing 
advantage over our wools.' Mr. Sluter’s testi¬ 
mony is decisive on that, point. 
Shit)South African or “ Cape wools” are about, 
us fine as Mestiza, and arc sounder and cleaner. 
Fine wools are not, at present, imported in suf 
Helen t, amounts trom other countries to render 
a separate description of them important. 
EXPORT or COMPETING WOOLS TO UNITED 
STATES. 
The following table gives the amount, value, 
aud average price per pound, of wool exported 
from Buenos Ayres to the Uuitcd States, from 
1855 to 1865, inclusive : 
Tear. Lbs. Dollars. L'ts. per lb. 
1855. 5,966,9*10 027,718 10.5 
'1850 . 5,072,939 588,403 ifts 
0SS7 . 5,753,519 094,780 12.0 
Not returned, 
law. tmt estimated, 910,107 
1859. from value rc- 1,274,172 Estimated 
isoo. turned,toam't 1,228,841 at. 130 
1801. for tile 4 years 1,787,381 
4-., Af\ Ortf UAA ' I 
pensive as those of the semi-savage Btate. In a 
country without public or private improve¬ 
ments, and almost without established institu¬ 
tions, he contributes a* little to the expenses as 
he shares in the benefits of civilization. 
It is not here necessary to show the separate 
items of cost of wool production iu Buenos 
Ayres. The article being grown exclusively for 
export, and without connection with, or benefit 
to, any other husbandry, it may be assumed that 
it market, price covers cost and a profit, or else 
the production would he abandoned. Wc have 
seen that the market price In t he city of Buenos 
Ayres average about thirteen cents a pound. 
The average quantity and annual market price 
of wool in the United States, from 1ST? to 1861, 
lueliislve—a period of thirty-five years—is made 
to appear, by a table prepared originally at. the 
request ol the chairman of this Committee, by 
the late George Livermore, the eminent wool 
merchant of Boston, whose name is an ample 
guaranty of its entire accuracy. The average 
price of line wool for the whole period was 50.3 
cents per pound; of medium, 43.8 cents; of 
coarse, 85.5 cents—average of the whole, 42.8 
cent*. This supposes the wool in market, 
charges paid, and currency generally at the gold 
standard. 
When the profits of a commodity are large, 
compared with those of other commodities, its 
production Is expected to increase rapidly. In 
what proportion did the growing of wool in¬ 
crease in thet United States during the period 
above specified ? Wc have not the number of 
our sheep in 1830. It appear* by the eenstiK re¬ 
ports, that the number in 1840 was lb,Eli,374; 
in 1850, 21,723,220: in 1800, 23,368,915. Sheep 
thus only increased twenty and a-haf per cent. 
In twenty years, while population Increased be¬ 
tween seventy and eighty per cent. The aggre¬ 
gate value of the import * <jf wool for ten years 
ending 1850, whs 210,003,609; for ten years end¬ 
ing i860, $30,428,157, an increase approaching to 
300 per cent. We shall get a better view of the 
increase in this imports of woolens by going fur¬ 
ther back. Their aggregate value for— 
Ten years ending 1830, ....I S6.l82.no 
Ten yearn' lullin: lM0, was ...129,916,258 
Ten years c-mllug 1*30. whs. 109,023,152 
Ten years ending 1860, was.892,682,880 
Under this showing, St is proper to aHsume 
COMPARATIVE CONDITION OF AMERICAN AND 
MESTIZA WOOLS. 
In comparing the market value of American with 
coagiettcg wools, their usual condition must be taken 
Into account. The mestiza wools are Imported in 
the yolk and dirt, always Urge in amount in unwashed 
merino wool; and ike mode of treatment and hand¬ 
ling in Buenos Ayres mixes them, to some extent, 
with loose dirt, or sand. They contain a hard bur, 
taken up from tbo trefoil, which h universal on the 
pampas, and which constitutes n portion of the win¬ 
ter teed of the sheep; and this can only be removed 
from the wool by processes which occasion consider¬ 
able waste. And finally the weakness of the fiber 
causes a constant, and, a* compared with American 
wool, unusual Io-r ol material, In all the processes of 
manufacture. 
Htatcinents taken from Die books of the “ I’roctor- 
vlllc Woollen Mill," In Vermont, and information 
from other reliable sources placed before ns In 
authenticated and responsible form, show conclusive 
ly that it requires shout four pounds of mestlwi wool 
to make a pound of finished cloth The same amount 
was formerly made by two pounds of washed Amerl 
can wool; bat washing Is now lee* perfectly performed 
and a -mall amount, ol our wool is brought an was tied 
into the market, so that taking the average of the 
whole, 210 pound* are required for a pound of cloth, 
COST OF MESTIZA WOOLS. 
The cost in this country of me6tlza materials 
for a pound of cloth, Including the duty we pro¬ 
pose, 1 b as follows, in gold: 
Cents. 
Average cost Ol WOO)...4R tt 18.00 
Port charge* and export duly. “ 2.00 
Expense ol transportation,&c., 27H V cent.... “ 8.57 
Proposed duty tt. 10 cents and to 4< cent. *■ 11.30 
Year. Pounds. 
.1886 . 195,1137 
1M6. 200,015 
1857. 792,0:3 
■1363... . 
..1359. 
1360. 
1861. 
1*62. • 700,257 
1863. 1,975 
J.301. 18,717,900 
1865 . *, 812,203 
- ,709,257 
ojni ,t)75 
Dollars. 
104,211 
39,408 
188.426 
53*1.1 IS 
587,011 
1,028,430 
1 ,010,111 
665,480 
1,179.707 
2,415,145 
1,538,796 
Cents p6r pound 
21.IK) 
19.12 
23.15 
Totftl . 0,277,852 19.12 state taxon on valuation' W’laud,Bay fij 
COMPARATIVE COST Off PRODUCTION. state taxes on valuation ot slVeap/say °° 
*nd\o£f^innal ? ith 1,la *>*», Htufo tcaVeV iiud foil “ 
and some QetORJon.vl UBMbtauoe from children, pOamenta,at eay $Mti, a of wool.. .. ,9Q ** 
takes all the care, besides sbcarlmr ofonnthnn Federal taxo* tin Implements * n> wool, ,83 » 
sand sheep, summer and winter! liis almost Cmd of »alt> one barret to too sheep, * a |t 
uuvaryitig subsistence is fond bisenita and fried CortOfTar, marking material’ &c.',’i<"ib of 
mutton. He does not even raise tbo material* wool... El •• 
for, or make the former but procures them Transportation to market, commissions, 
•town Or city.* lie cult'ivati nowJtdenwS iMurnuoe. *«.. * n of wool.•• 
tables, uses no milk, butter, or any or the other ,, 105.25 »* 
hiThe SfiSdaUta! f °Hli By Improvement on flock,85* cent., * tt of 
unburned bncks, containing only the most Burplu* of manure, ($50) * a> or wool.... 5.20 •• 
scanty and primiUvei’urniture. His fuel is dried “arT •< 
dung from the bottom Of the sheep fold. The Net cost of a pound of wool In currency..... 68,si cents 
——— Premium on gold, fl.25. 13.76 “ 
* “Sheep Farming on the Pampas.*' by Rev. G D - 
(Arrow, lam Superintendent of the Missions'oft lie Cost of u pound of wool in gold.....55 05 cents 
Methodist Enteconai Church In Sontt, a I ^ UUUtls Ol \^OOl lU tl pOBIld Oi -I 1*0 
Ten years ending 1830, ....| 96,182,110 
Ten years ending IM0, was. 129,8V,,253 
Ten years ending 1*50. woe... 109,028,152 
Ten years endtug 1860, ivai. 282,682,830 
Under this showing, it is proper to aHsume 
that, taking all the sheep of our country to¬ 
gether, the market price of wools from 1827 to 
L861 was not more than barely remunerative. 
But for the other uses of sheep, besides wool¬ 
growing, which have alreudy been described, 
they would have produced no profit to their 
owners. 
The present decade has Introduced u new era 
In the cost of all kinds of agricultural produc¬ 
tion. The price of labor and subsistence is now 
more t han double the average trom 1827 to 1.800, 
and double what it was only ten years ago. It 
is made to appear by the concurrent testi¬ 
mony of leading wool-growers in our principal 
wool-growing (states, recently drawn forth by 
inquiries made to Diem by this Committee, at 
the request of the United States Revenue Com¬ 
mission, that a competent shepherd, or laborer 
on u sheep farm, now receives, on the average, 
$300 per annum, and that bis subsistence costs 
£1.'>0. It requires one laborer, aided by the agri¬ 
cultural labor-saving machines now common, to 
take the summer and winter care of three hun¬ 
dred sheep iu Ohio, New York, or Vermont—i. 
c., keep buildings, fences, and implements in re¬ 
pair, sow- and harvest the. grain, mow and feed 
ont the buy, and do ull the other work necessary 
to he done on a sheep farm in the climate of 
those States. The expense of labor, therefore, 
for 30D sheep Is $450, or 81.50 per head. The 
cost of ordinary sheep farms la about $30 pei¬ 
ne re, and such farms, Including wood-land and 
waste-land, wiU support, taking one year with 
another, say two aud a-half sheep to the acre. 
It. requires to work the form a span of horses, 
harness, wagon, sleigh, mowing machine, horse- 
rake, plow, harrowq cultivator, fanning mill, 
chains, shovels, hoes, axes, scythes, pitchforks, 
a»d ottier articles, costing In all say $581, and 
lasting on the average twelve years. This ex¬ 
pense-including Interest ami taxes on the arti¬ 
cles, feed of team, &C.,—ftpnearB somewhat ilis- 
nroportiuate, if made applicable to only three 
nundred sheep,'because It would require but a 
trilling addition to it to meet the wants of six 
hundred sheep. But, on Die other hand, it may 
he said of many of the articles that if used more 
they would not last so long. 
It is an old estimate, nua generally esteemed a 
safe one, that, flocks under every different varl 
uty of situation and treatmantr—subjected to ull 
the ordiuary and extraordinary casualties to 
which they are incident—do not, taking a term 
of years together, increase more than twenty- 
live percent, porannnni in value. State, couuty 
and town taxes greatly vary, Hut wc adopt w'ha't 
we believe to be a mean, when wo place them al 
two per cent, on valuation. But the assessed 
valuation generally falls from twenty-five to 
thirty-three per cent, below the actual value. 
In estimating cost of transportation we have 
also been obliged t o take a mean between places 
on railroads aud nenr markets, and the interiors 
of remote western States, where wool,must bo 
hauled many miles in wagons before II reaches 
railroad or water lines of cotmnun'cation with 
the market. In estimating Dio value of manure 
wc have only credited the sheep with the sur¬ 
plus over aud above that necessary to keep up 
Die original fertility and consequently actual 
value of the portions of the form devoted to the 
raising of grain, Ac. 
The average, weight of fleeces in the United 
States in 1840 was L84 lbs.; in INTO, 2.42 lbs.; in 
1860, 2.73 Jbs. it appears by the census of I860 
that the six following States gave the subjoined 
averages: w 
Weight of Fleeces. 
Vermont. 4.00 tbs. 
Ohio. 8.47 *' 
New York. 8.22 •* 
Illinois. 8.19 " 
Michigan. 2.77 “ 
Iowa. 2.52 “ 
The whole averaging within a fraction of 3.20 lbs. 
Nearly all wool was wushed. 
The cost of producing woo], per pound, and 
thecounterbalancing advantages received from 
its production, may he estimated, on the basis ol 
the data already presented, as follows: 
To cost of labor and subsistence at $450 4* an¬ 
num, V d. 01 wool.. 46.86 Cents 
Interest- on lamb 1 4» com., m y acre. 
tfri tt* ol* wool ..... . 26 25 4 * 
interest on sheep, at *1 *■ head, v a'woo] s jj •• 
Interest on team ami implements, coniine 
$381, ^ lb of wool. 4,23 .1 
Wear amt tear of team ami Implements, f 
m of wool. r>,oi •• 
{Hale taxes on valuation of land, say $20 
y: aero, N lb of wool. . 5,00 “ 
State, taxes on valuation ol sheep, suv *:r- 
75 v head, V ft ot wool. 2.81 •* 
State taxes ou valuation of teams anil im. 
plQineats, at say $189, it of wool.90 •• 
Federal taxes on Implements, $1 it, wool, ,88 " 
Cost of salt, one bam-4 to 100 sheep, y it. 
<>f wpol. 1345 “ 
Cost of tar, marking material, &c., 43 ft of 
wool. .81 •• 
Transportation to market, commissions, 
luburance, Ac., in ft of wool. 4.00 •• 
- — a a-= ~ 
t 
mmimmmi 
Harrow, late Superintendent of the Missions c 
Methodist. Episcopal Church In Hontti America 
port of Committee of Agriculture, 1804 . 
Cost of wool lor a pound ol cloth.$1 19.27 
Tlio turtn' or 1 Mil took effect April 1 of that year, 
and Die tariff of 1«H July 1 of that year. It will bo 
seen that the' gold prices of mestiza wool, in lstw 
averaged lff«7 cents per pound, and in 1865, ai.oi 
cents. is slightly lower than our estimate of its 
cost in our market, making allowance for the differ¬ 
ence in duties: and we learn from reliable sources 
that It was imported at a loss. 
Taking New York wools, which occupy a medium 
place in prices, in the preceding table, between those 
of Ohio aud Illinois, we find the annual prices per 
pouud. In gold and currency, as follows: 
1861. 1302- 1863. 1861. ion 
Cents. < emts. Cuuis. Cent... Cem..' 
Gold.41.25 W.21 60.25 41.50 
Currency,... .... oO-ff <2.62 w.U 70.62 
The average price per pound iu gold ‘during tbo 
whole five years, was 44.07 cents, one cent and two 
mills higher than the. average of 18151 and the thirty- 
four preceding years, fbc average* p<-r pound m 
currem-y for four years was 69.42 ci-uts, or 26.63 cents 
higher than the average of the thirty-five preceding 
years. But, tu reality, Now York wools are ubovc 
tho average quality of those grown in the btate- 
Irom which wo have derived supplies since I860. 
Taking all the American wools rout In our markets 
since that year, they have unquestionably UI ft 
lower gold rate than Die average of tUe thirty-five 
preeeduig years. 
Yet, in the luce of these facte. Ilia production of 
sheep and wool rapidly increased during these years 
Estimates of their Increase, rurtiBhod to us lrotn the 
Department of Agriculture are as follows; 
Y’ears. No.ofFheep. Founds of Wool. 
18')0. 28488,915 60.511.311 
I860. 86,000.090 ll7jOOO,tHIO 
Much of this estimate la necessarily based merely 
on conjectural data, and wo regard it as a very high 
one, although the increase was. doubtless, more 
rapid than at any preceding period, unless during the 
war of 1812, fold the •'Saxon'' mauia of 1834-’28. 
The stimulus to this extraordinary production was 
the war, 01 the riate of thing* produced by It. After 
the business of the country recovered from its first 
depressing effect s wool bore a high price in currency 
Ordinary men make no disilactiod ui their minds, or 
in their practical pecuniary transactions, between 
gold and a legal-tender currency. It was believed, iu 
me popular phrase, Uuu •• King Cotton was dead' — 
In other woms, that this staple would never be culti 
vaiud to anything like its former extent, and that 
wool would •apply its place. The flourishing condi¬ 
tion and rapid Increase of oar woollen iiienutaciuree 
were thought to foreshadow u corresponding Increase 
iu the demand for the raw material. It. was antici¬ 
pated that the restoration of the Union and the re 
opening of the boutlieni markets would still further 
promote the growth of those mauu/uetttroB and of 
that demand. Ana, finally, it appeared Inevitable 
thut tho immense accumulation ot public debt would 
require an amount of duties to be levied on imports 
winch would afford needed protection to al! brunches 
of Industry. Influenced by such considerations, 
wOol-growura increased their Docks as rapidly as 
possible. A strong desire to obtain improved uiu 
inula prerallcd, and extraordinary pricesaivcre paid 
for them. 
The utter fallacy of the wool-growers’ expectations, 
has already become apparent, aide** there shall be a 
prompt Increase of protection, While mestiza wools, 
multiplied In Uielr production by our vast demand dur¬ 
ing Die war, cun supply our mainline lorn .1 with ail, or 
nearly ull, the materials for many of uur most Impcirtaoi 
fabric*, such as broadcloths, casslioeres, doeskins, <fcc., 
and with a portion oi Die materials for many more; 
while these weak, inferior wools make intirirs a* good m 
appearance m* American wools; and while they can 
undersell American wools lu our own markets at least 
I.wenty-ilvo cents in the umoiuii of wool uscossary fur a 
pound - of cloth, it must he expected that tho latter will 
nod only tin remunerating prices and an uncertain mid 
languid market. And tni* is what U now befog witness¬ 
ed.' Taking the period since thy. hut clip together, file 
gold prices of American wool have not probably equaled 
Founds of wool In a pound of cloth. 4 
Cost of wool for a pound of cloth...... $1 19.43 
mticKH or wool under tAiurra or 1861 and 1864. 
Assuming the pie*wit average duty paid on mestiza 
wools to equal fire cent* per pound though It is a 
trifle less—the actual cost in our market to the Im¬ 
porter of these wools Is, for the materials of a pound 
of cloth 94.28 ecu la, or ‘ 26.12 cent# less thau the cost 
of producing the domestic materials. Under tho 
tariff of 1861, the foreign wool had a still greater 
advantage. 
The following table of wool prices in New York, 
from 1861 to 1865, inclusive, w r as prepared for us by 
Messrs. Tellkampf & Kltclilng, eminent wool mer¬ 
chants of thut city: 
AVERAGB PRICES OF WOOL AT NEW YORK. 
Dio.cc of the thirty-five ynirs ending with 1S61. And 
much of the cltfi ha« not yet gone tu market. Regions 
which formerly swarmed with eager wool buyers have, 
In many Instances, scnm-ly been visited by one since the 
cluge of the war. This has occurred while the cost ol 
the labor and subsistence employed lu tho production 
remains at double former rates. 
At the request 01 the Revenue Commission, we recent¬ 
ly addressed foqulrie* to many ot the taunt experienced 
and Intelligent wool-grower* ot Die United State's, to 
obtain their view* in regard to the condition and pros¬ 
pects of sheep husbandry in their several localities, 
llicy concurred In the statement (hat an advance Iri 
duties on foreign competing wools Is necessary to save 
tills branch of industry from revulsion and extreme de- 
presslon. Thu State, comity, and town wool-growers’ 
association*, -jireadlng over Die principal wool produc¬ 
ing Slates, and embracing a vast body ot growers, have. 
In tbetr public d|*nti*slon», ond, in tunny Instances, lu 
odlelal resolutions, Ukrn tho same ground. Congress W 
, now flooded with petition!! on the subject, .Most ol 
these pet,!lout ask legislation substantially concurring 
vith the dr«D of tho bill which, at the Instance of the 
Revenue Cominl-ffou, we shall herewith RtiJiiuit. None 
«'<k b-.i- duties thin those named In the proposed hill. 
Should the pre-ent Inadequate scale ot duties remain iu 
force, sheep will probably decrease as rttjddly within the 
ncjit rive year* us they have Increased within the last 
live. Should Die necessary relief be delayed even be¬ 
yond the present sestlon of Congress, discouragement 
will seize on the minds of the producers, and a tide of 
reaction will set In which, though It may be arrested 
hereafter, will produce most dlsastroa- eonm-qucnees to 
the wool-growing interest, It r, II] lend to serious sacri¬ 
fices,repress enterprise nail divert it Into other channel*, 
and chill that spirit of Improvement w hich ha* been so 
rapidly Increasing tho value of onr own sheep, and 
bringing tho best sheep of every other clime to our 
shores. 
We have alined at moderation In the amount of pro¬ 
tection which we ask. We would impose no unnecessary 
burdens on the consumers. We would Introduce no 
overact ton among growers. Stability In 1 - 0 , ir I'gislu- 
tlcn can onty lie attained by 11 voiding extreme*, and 
stability In this particular I* merc*s*rv to a healthy nnd 
steady growth of this and every' Other great protected 
Interest. The proponed dnttc* do not, nsrhr figures have 
shown, leave any margin of actual profit to the grower* 
of HU 1 .T 1 aheep In Hie United States v- yield only tho 
average quantity of wool per head crown la Vermont, 
Ohio, New York, Illinois. Michigan, and Iowa In 1360, 
namely, 3 2-10 pound*. Profit* wilt have (« he sought lu 
Improtemeni-lu growing battel produrbig sheep; and 
we are quite willing that t>ueb u condition to «ucc>-«* 
should exist. 
TUe grounds on which equal duties per pound are ask¬ 
ed on combing wools, which are Imported principally 
Iron) Canada, arc different from the preceding. We do 
not here compete with essentially cheaper labor or sub¬ 
sistence, or more favorable situations in any pattjctifor, 
for gtuwliiK wool. We ask these Umle- because tnete 
wool* are highly valuable in the production of goods, and 
befog used lor light fabric*, tin- duties will not hear so 
heavily on the consumer; because such dalle* wifi fos¬ 
ter an infant and Important branch ol sheep husbandry; 
and because, II the Canadian people are to enjoy the 
bonent* ol onr market., we see no good renvan why they 
should not share lu the burthen* attached to It. 
• he dut'.es named In drall ot bill ou the coar*-.-, hslry 
earpei wools, widen compete w lth none grown, or which 
can he profitably grown at present in the United State*, 
are proposed Tor revenue purpose*only 
W n have poluied ont considerations which render 
sheep husbandry highly important to our National In¬ 
tel e-U. There are others which are almost too obvious 
loreqnjro mention. The home prod action of wool Is 
ni-ecwary to render u* properly Independent of Foreign 
I owers. In peace and wai, In obioJlling our supplies ol 
an article On which Die lives and health of all onr people 
depend. It Is nooewarv to Nation*! economy, tor no 
gri-n: agricultural cuunlry can atrord to lnipott Us most 
imjKirunt ami costly ra* materials, especially from 
countries which take hut little raw or manuluctured 
commodities fo return. It Is m-ci ‘snrv, lu the already 
quoted word.* of the Executive Committee of the Nation¬ 
al Aaaoclatlonol Wool MatntfoeUirers, to ftlrnbll "the 
lint and always Die ehtel dependence" ol our woolen 
nmiiufactnres. It Is ueeessary, to*apply our people w lth 
strong, serviceable Cloths, In tin* place of the compara¬ 
tively weak and unserviceable ones manufactured from 
much the larger portion of the cloth wool* now Imported. 
Finally, it Is necessary, to extend and complete th« circle 
ol diversified Industry on which the wealth aud Indepen¬ 
dence Of liatloas so tuuoh depend. 
We submU to the Revenue. Coxnmtstlon tho following 
proposed draft of bill of duties oil wool. (This has 
already been given.) 
HENRY 8. RANDALL, 
Chairman Executive Committee 
National Wool-Crowem' Association. 
AGRICULTURAL ITEMS. 
Buckwheat .—The season for sowing buckwheat 
has arrived—the li rst week iu July being deemed 
about the right time for this latitude. Stroug 
soils, in high tilth, produce a great growth of 
straw, but the yield of wheat is often in an in¬ 
verse ratio to this. This crop is among the 
most uncertain ones upon which a former relies, 
being uncommonly sensitive with respuet to 
metereologicul influences. If successful it fur¬ 
nishes an excellent article of food for the winter 
months, while In the maturing season It contri¬ 
butes liberally to apiarian stores. Buckwheat 
cakes and honey have a natural affinity for each 
other and form a natural conjunction. But sow 
buckwheat whether there be honey iu prospect 
or not. A substitute is readily found for the 
latter in sirup and butter. 
Sights in Germany .—A correspondent of the 
New York Turf In Germany, writes,—“Whata 
queer sort of country this is to a man f resh from 
America. The roads stretch away for miles aud 
miles together, under the shade of a double row 
of cherry aud apple trees; there are no fences 
beside the roads, none around the lields, none 
even around most of the houses. One sees no 
cattle, except now and then a small herd watched 
by a keeper, throughout a dreary day; no sheep, 
except under the same conditions ; no horses at 
all, no swine, aud not even auy geese and chick¬ 
ens. AH are kept up in their places, and I have 
laughed more than once to see a stout Dutch¬ 
man driving a flock of geese or a brood of chick¬ 
ens on their morning or evening promenade.” 
Potato Bigger. —8. H. 801JLE, Chapiusvillo, N. 
Y., asks “ if there have been any machines con¬ 
structed that nro now iu practical use, for dig¬ 
ging and picking up potatoes?” He further 
states that ho is building oue to experiment with 
the coming fall, which, ho has no doubt, will 
dig and pick up potatoes iu a satisfactory man¬ 
ner. There are several machines lor harvesting 
potatoes, but none so porfeet as need deter auy 
inventor from trying again. A practical, good- 
working machine for this purpose would he 
warmly welcomed by extensive potato growers. 
Food for Chickens .—A “Subscldbr” writes 
us that when he commenced raising chickens lie 
fed them on corn meal, mixed up with water 
and buckwheat. The chickens had the gapes 
and two-thirds of them died. Black pepper aud 
turpentine would not save them. Next he tried 
feeding sweet milk, boiled buckwheat, and soak¬ 
ed bread, and with that diet he never lost a 
chicken from disease. Besides this kind of food 
makes them grow and fatten very rapidly. 
Ashes on Corn.— W.w. F. Grass, Huron Co., 
Ohio, writes that he has used ashes on corn for 
several years, and he thinks it does much more 
good than plaster; he beUeves one barrel of 
ashes worth more than five of plaster. Ashes 
makes the corn look thrifty and dark, and puts 
it in good growing order. 
-- «■» » 
Tub Wheat Midge. - Tills pestiferous insect has 
commenced its depredations in Bucks couuty, Pa., 
and places adjuceut. In wheat fields near Doyles- 
town it has appeared In great numbers nnd preludes 
a general devastation of tbo wheat crop in that 
section. 
The Wheat Creep ef Texas, Just harvested, is said 
to be the best ever grown there—aud ou much of the 
same ground is now planted corn that promises well. 
m 
oi 
The CRors Better than Anticipated.— The re¬ 
cent warm weather In this section ha* given tiulookcd 
I for vigor to vegetation generally. Corn, potatoes 
and the like have come forward most promisingly 
j and, should the initial autumnal month have the 
customary exemption from frost, there will be no 
•rinse of complaint again-1 the latter harvest. The 
hayiog season ha* commenced, and, as a general 
thing, the expectations of the farmers will be more 
than realized, This is true also of the wheat crop fo 
this region so far, a* present indications seem to 
assure a more bountiful yield than was anticipated 
earlier in the season. With reference to autumnal 
fruits, the proipect Is not very flattering, though in 
*ome localities an average yield is predicted. 
"A* to prospect* In other States, they arc more 
cheering than was anticipated a few weeks ago. Our 
exchanges bring report* from some twenty-five 
States, and, with but. few exceptions, there will be 
bat a slight falling off from the general average of the 
grain yield for the last five years. In portions of 
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois ami Michigan there will be a 
considerable falling off In wheat, but, with these ex¬ 
ceptions, the prospect is quite cheering. . 
Tiie Adjustable Dash Churn at the Wept.— We 
leahi from the Jackson (Mich.) Daily Citizon that a 
number of enterprizing business men and farmers of 
that city and vicinity have purchased the right of 
H P. Westcott’s Adjustable Dash Chnm for the en¬ 
tire State of Michigan, and organized under the name 
of the “Michigan Churn Manufacturing Co.," with 
Geo. F. Rio* of Jackson, President, aud It. P, Ald¬ 
rich of Parma, Secretary and Treasurer, *T}ir Com¬ 
pany nre to establish a factory at Parma which Is to 
la* in successful operation a* early ns 1st of October 
next. Meantime the Company have ordered a large 
number of wood, gins* and stone churns from Sonccn 
Falls, N. Y., to -apply the demand from various 
parts of Michigan. From personal acquaintance with 
several members of tills Company, and what we know 
of the churn they propose tomanufactureaml furnish, 
we can assure those of our readers In Michigan who 
wish a good churn, that they will be honorably dealt 
with, and find the Adjustable Dash a genuine im¬ 
provement. 
— The above namod churn has been highly com¬ 
mended in the Rural, both editorially aud otherwise, 
and we are glad to note its success. Wo bcllcvo that 
Michigan Is the only territory yet sold by the Compa¬ 
ny owning the patent—the Seneca Falls (N. Y.)Chnrn 
Mauf’g Co.— but leuru that the General Agents, 
Meners. A. E. Sloan and It. E. Lusk, arc about to 
offer other Western State*, A* the invention is a 
very valuable one, we trust other State* will be se¬ 
cured by reliable men, and that all parties interested 
will he benefited by the introduction of the churn, 
»*» 
About Salt for Stock.— Referring to the articles 
recently given tn the Rural on salting stock, O. B. 
L. writes:—“In the alkali vallies of California and 
Nevada stock will positively not touch salt. But 
higher np the mountains, whore there is no alkali, 
they crave It so desperately that Spanish stock, wild 
as deer, will surround tho person distributing salt. 
The stock men feed large quantities of salt, although 
costing 6 and 8 ct*. per pound. Still the cattle will 
nOt equal ihn alkali valley cattle iu weight or Juicl- 
110 * 8 . Around the alkali springs tho ground Is eaten 
In large patches.” 
-KH- 
A Cuba!' Barometer.— L. G., St. Joseph, Mich., 
srj’8Take a split stick of red cedar; dress it 1 inch 
wide and % inch or less thick; cut 15 inches long. 
Then dress a whltewood board 1 foot wide, down 
to % inch thick. Saw off a piece crosswise of the 
grain, 1 Inch wide, and glue it to the cedar strip. Put 
it in tho veranda or some place out of the wet; nail 
It, up or stick it in a block. When the atmosphere is 
damp, the whltewood swells and bends the stick 
toward the cedar; when dry, It bends the other way. 
This perhaps is us good a barometer as there is extant. 
Feeding Young Turkies.—I eend a word about 
leediug youug turkies, which may be useful. I feed 
with bread, soaked iu warm water and slightly pep¬ 
pered, for two or three days; then leed with mill- 
feed, mixed with thick sour milk, until they are large 
enough to take care of themselves. (Jive water to 
drink instead of sour milk. Keep them lu a dry 
place for two or three weeks. 1 feed iu this way and 
scarcely ever lose a turkey by sickness. — Mus. I C. 
Kundlett, Stirling , III. 
Cheering Croi- Prosfbcts. — Tbo editor of the 
Brockport Republican, (this county) recently made 
an excursion through a portion of the surrounding 
country, and reports crop prospects generally to be 
most flatUsriug. The only exception noticed was in 
the corn fields, and tho*e have a chance to make 
amend* yet. Winter and spring grains never looked 
finer; potatoes promise well and *0 do the orchards, 
but fo some instances the let-a-lono policy in regard 
to Die worms Indicates less favorable results. 
Sorodvm Seed—Lupine.— (M. O. E., Niagara Co., 
N. Y.) At present we do not know where pure Sor¬ 
ghum eccd can be procured. It Is out of season. Wc 
are not acquainted with the qualities oi' Lupine as 11 
good material for green manuring—at least we do not 
know that It has any special merit for such apurpoeo. 
Lucerne, in soils adapted to It, 1* an excellent forage 
and manuriul plant. Its culture in this country might 
be extended with profit. 
Driving Pipe for Well*. (T. M.W., Mo.) There 
is a procees patented for driving gas pipe Into the 
earth to the proper depth to obtain a supply of water. 
A valve i» placed fo the pipe and forms a pump. We 
believe there are several claimants for the patent. 
We have no definite information for the public, but 
suppose tbe parties interested will ere long supply it. 
Oi - 
lioa Cholera anj> Trichina. — According to a 
statement In the monthly report of the Commissioner 
of Agriculture at Washington, made on the authority 
of Dr. Kiefer, copperas and salt,, mixed with the 
food of tho hog*, is a certain cure for hog cholera 
and trichina,—on the supposition, probably, that the 
diseases are the same or eimiilar, which is doubtful. 
Tub Cattle Plague—Results. — Up to June 2d, 
of the present year, the number of cuttle attacked 
by the plague or rinderpest, fo Great Britain, from 
the commencement of the disease, was 246,642; killed 
76,918; died 124,114; recovered 32,378, and unaccount¬ 
ed for 11,237. _ _ 
Sand Bunns.- My land in most parts is nearly cov¬ 
ered with sand burrs. Will some of the rcadors of 
the Rural inform me how to rid my land of this 
A femmf’imiKU. .J fflliitll . Til . 
