THE CULTIVATOR. 
13 
The greater part then of the soils, to be carried to the highest 
rate of productiveness, require manures to improve their constitu¬ 
tion. Alimentary manures give much vigor to the leafy products 
—but they multiply weeds, both by favoring their growth and con¬ 
veying their seeds—and they often cause crops [of small grain] to 
be lodged, when they are heavy. Manures which improve the soil, 
more particularly aid the formation of the seeds, give more solidity 
to the stalks, and prevent the falling of the plant?. But it is in the 
simultaneous employment of these two mean3 of fertilization by 
which we give to the soil all the active power of which it is sus¬ 
ceptible. They are necessary to each other, doubling their action 
reciprocally: and whenever they are employed together, fertility 
goes on without ceasing—increasing instead of diminishing. 
The greater part of improving substances are calcareous com¬ 
pounds. Their effect is decided upon all soils which do not con¬ 
tain lime, and we shall see that three fourths, perhaps of the lands 
of France are in that state. The soils not calcareous, whatever 
may be their culture, and whatever may be the quantity of manure 
lavi-hed on them, are not suitable for all products—are often cold 
and moist, and are covered with weeds. Calcareous manures, by 
giving the lime which is wanting in such soils, complete their ad¬ 
vantages, render the tillage more easy, destroy the weeds, and fit 
the soil for all products. 
The improving substances have been called stimulants; they 
have been thus designated because it was believed that their effect 
consisted only in stimulating the soil and the plants. This desig¬ 
nation is faulty, because it would place these substances in a false 
point of view. It would make it seem that they brought nothing 
to the soil, nor to plants—and yet the r principal effect is to give 
to both principles which are wanting. Thus th^ main effect, of cal¬ 
careous manures proceed from their giving, on the one hand, to the 
soil the calcareous principle which it does not contain, and which is 
necessary to be able to develope its full action on the atmosphere— 
and on the other hand, to vegetables, the quantity which they re¬ 
quire of this principle, for their frame-work and their intimate con¬ 
stitution. It would then be a better definition than that above, to 
say that to improve the soil is to give to it the principles which it 
requires, and does not contain. 
SHEEP HUSBANDRY.—No. IV. 
WOOL, THE COAT OF THE SHEEP. 
The laws of nature are determined above the power of man to 
counteract. It is a'most as preposterous to attempt any perma¬ 
nent improvement of the (Greyhound,) and of the distinctive sheep 
denominated Merino, by any foreign admixture, as the improve¬ 
ment of wheat by attempting its admixture with rye or barley. 
The wild goose sustains his distinctive character, in defiance of 
the arts of civilization. And Buffon, together with those who pre¬ 
fer their own opinion to established facts, ultimately concur in the 
conclusion, that the wild and tame goose cannot be permanently 
assimilated. 
Man should be an intent, admiring, discriminating observer of 
nature’s works and laws. 
The human inhabitants of so large a portion of our globe, are 
under the necessity of so protecting themselves from cold and wet by 
clothing, as to render the best material an object of primary esti¬ 
mation. Wool, the covering of the sheep, has hitherto mostly sup¬ 
plied rhis requirement. 
Wool, in its varieties of soft, fine, elastic and glossy, elicits the 
inquiry, on what causes are these varieties and properties depen¬ 
dent and influenced ? All these considerations involve the philoso¬ 
phical considerations of the subtilty of cohesion of particles, attrac¬ 
tion, agglutination, elasticity, light, &-c. &tc. 
Silk in its curious properties, must here be regarded as an ano¬ 
maly. 
The essential or chemical properties of wool, hair and fur, are 
very similar, or the same ; as also hoofs, nails, feathers. The spe¬ 
cific or characteristic distinctions between these various produc¬ 
tions, are at present principally dependent on their application to 
manufacturing purposes. The distinctive identification of wool, in¬ 
dependent of its growing on the back of a sheep, are but few. The 
peculiar coil, or crimp of its fibre, like the coiled wire in a spring 
cushion, and its elasticity, are to me its most prominent features. 
If the best material for making cloth called wool, is found on the 
sheep’s back, without going into distinctions of too great nicety, 
that is the place to go for it. The best kind of fur suitable for hats, 
is found on the back of the Otter and Beaver. It. is an inquiry to 
which I would invite the curious naturalist, to point out the cha¬ 
racteristic differences between hair, fur, wool, feathers, Sic., inde¬ 
pendent of its production and application ? The consideration of 
the covering of animals is particularly interesting. Its incorrupti¬ 
bility, and yet its susceptibility to change. I have seen the abori¬ 
ginal remains of the human frame disclosed by excavation, of which 
the hair and bones were the only vestiges : the hair more perfect 
and entire than the bones. Yet there are on record many well au¬ 
thenticated instances of persons under circumstances of extreme 
terror and distress, having their hair turn gray in one day ! I have 
known one person who was gray at the age of eighteen, and yet in 
good health. I do not know but gray hairs adhere with the same 
tenacity, and are as strong as others—who can explain the modus 
operandi ? 
Quadrupeds, in assuming their winter dress, and birds in autum¬ 
nal molting, assume a dimmer coat and darker hue. 
A sentiment has been promulgated, and is now vibrating on the 
ear of folly, that fine wool can only be produced on ill conditioned 
sheep. Compare the fine glossy coat of the courser and gig-horse, 
with that of the meagre and deserted hackney and dray ; or the 
glistening plumage of the full-fed bird, and the faded feathers of the 
setting hen. 
The wool is dependent on the condition of the skin, and the skin 
is dependent on the condition of the animal. Tanners understand 
this, and will not pay full price for the skins of animals which die 
of starvation or disease. Picking or plucking of wool, ought to be 
unknown to a good shepherd, and is even now reluctantly acknow¬ 
ledged by bad ones. 
The non-conducting electrical property of wool, hair and fea¬ 
thers, a familiar instance known to all the boys, viz., stroking the 
back of a black cat with the hand, in a dry, cold, dark night. 
There are some curious considerations, subject to the develope- 
ment, or arising from the influence, of light on animal covering.— 
The investigation of the French naturalists, has resulted in the 
opinion that women, with red, auburn or sandy hair, are the best 
nurses. Light complexioned persons are most disposed to scrofu¬ 
la ; dark, to a melancholic disposition. This is not to be received 
in disparagement of those who have black hair, for on scriptural 
authority, who can “make one hair white or black?” Still, there 
may be some such wmnder—working cause in operation. Thence 
the popular supposition and prepossession, that red cattle and cows 
are better for beef and butter, and the strong prejudices against 
while. That white horses, and those with white legs and nose, are 
more subject to scratches. With white or wall eyes, skittish.— 
Black sheep, never fine. 
Felting, or entanglement, is a property of fur better understood 
by experience, than can be described by language. Hair, horse¬ 
hair, bristles, &.C., will not felt; fur will. Wool possesses an in¬ 
termediate property; the nearer it approximates fur, the more valu¬ 
able for the purpose of clothing. The most perfect wool is pro¬ 
duced on a healthy sheep, and on those uniformly kept in good con¬ 
dition. 
Fur felting and wool felting, are somewhat analogous, from the 
fineness and durability of the best hats, it is obvious that wool best 
disposed to full will make the most durable cloth. On this prin¬ 
ciple, fine elastic wool will make more cloth per pound, and a more 
durable fabric. From its elasticity it yields and gives way to re¬ 
sistance, neither breaking like straw, or suffering friction: hence 
more durable. Fine wool, in its approach to fur, is also a warmer 
covering. 
There are certain articles of traffic, denominated staple articles, 
that is, which are indispensable to life, viz., food and clothing.— 
The market is always intermediate between the vender and the 
purchaser, and regulates the price. 
It is not the amount of stuff in pounds that is most valuable to 
the manufacturer, whether hair or wool, or an indefinite admixture, 
but wool that will make the most and best cloth for durability, 
warmth and beauty—having the least waste and inviting the best 
paymaster. 
