The oily matter which settles at the bottom during the washing, is let off by means of a small gutter, is collected and conveyed in casks upon the meadows, which being done after haying-time, when the season is usually quite dry, is of much value to the crop of hay.

At a distance of about 300 steps from the establishment for the washing of the sheep, upon a gentle height which commands the whole valley, lies the handsome building for the shearing of the sheep. With its high roof of boards and its many windows, it is well lighted, airy, and sufficiently large to take in from 150 to 160 shearers at one and the same time. The shearing is done by women who possess great skill in shearing. The wages paid for shearing is from 15 to 25 cents, the last being paid to those who shear both quick and handsomely. The rolling up of the fleece and the collecting of the pick-wool is done by boys and little girls, the former receiving 9 cents, and the latter 5 cents, or its equivalent Vienna currency.

XIII.-Wool Growers' Convention and Wool Markets.

In the historical sketch of Silesian wool culture, we have seen how many years it took those intelligent and industrious wool growers to obtain that degree of perfection in the wool of their flocks, which corresponds with the demand of the manufacturers, as well as with those of the wool growers.

It required time, experience, and mutual understanding among the wool growers, manufacturers and wool traders; to effect this they held conventions as early as 1814, when the wool growers of Germany, and such persons as were interested in this branch of husbandry, met at Brun, for the first time, to consult, exchange their views, and adopt general terms and rules for the accomplishment of the desired object.

Von Thäer succeeded in calling together a similar convention, which met at Liepsic, in Saxony, and several other societies adopted the same benefi

cent measure.

The principal object of these conventions was to accelerate the merino wool culture, to exchange their views and experience in breeding, feeding, washing, shearing, &c.; to take into consideration the demands of the wool merchants and woollen manufacturers, and in this way the German wool growers have attained to their superior results.

By samples of wool from various flocks in different parts of the United States, that have come to my notice, I have found that there exists no decided character in the wool of this country; in every flock, no doubt there is wool of different character, and very few are perfect in their kind.

This vast expanse of country, of various climes, soil and more or less favorable localities for sheep breeding, must naturally produce different kinds of wool; and it would be highly important to the wool growers of the east, west, north and south, to meet once a year, and bring with them, if possible, some of their sheep, or when the distance is too great, at least a number of entire fleeces in a washed and unwashed state; these fleeces ought to be exhibited with a label indicating

1. The section of country from which it comes;
2. The kind of pasture-high or low grounds;

3. Length, height and circumference of the sheep;

4. The sex;

5. The age of the fleece in days;

6. Weight of the animal;

7. Weight of the fleece in unwashed state;

8. Weight of the fleece when washed;

9. Origin of the animal.

These data will facilitate the wool growers in judging of the fineness, evenness, form of the staple, and all those indications, by which a thorough blood can be noticed; for it is only by comparison of wool from the various parts of the fleece we can ascertain the value of an animal.

The wool growe should be furnished with samples of the best Silesian breeds, to enable them to compare the wool of their flocks by, and should there exist faults to discern the mode of remedying them in the shortest and best manner.

I have sent the honorable Commissioner of Patents several charts with samples of the best Silesian, Hungarian and Saxon wool, which I collected during my journey through those countries. Such a chart will enable the wool growers of the United States to make comparison with the wool of their flocks and ascertain the difference existing between the wool of their sheep and those of Silesia.

At the yearly meeting of the German agriculturists, this important branch is ably discussed, and all new improvements in the mode of breeding or growing wool are made known and published.

The wool markets afford another opportunity to the wool grower to become acquainted with the progress in the wool culture, and the demands of the manufacturer.

Germany has at di ferent places regular wool markets, where, on certain days of the year, the wool of a whole country or district is brought together for sale.

At Breslau is the most celebrated wool market; it is celebrated not only for the finest wool being found there, but for its being one of the earliest in the season where the greatest quantity of excellent wool is offered for sale. The next important ones are at Berlin, Stettin, Magdeburg, Dresden and Leipsic.

At Breslau are sold every year about 60,000 cwt., of which

Reicthalers. Dollars.

3,000 cwt. are of the finest quality, and averages about 130-98 per. cwt. 4,000 5,000 "

110=77 66 (6

100=70 (6

90=63 (C

10,000, "

15,000 "

15,000 8,000 "

Amounting to 4,920,000 rix dollars at 70 cents the rix dollar, equal to $3,444,000.

This shows that even at that market, where all the wool of the whole province of Prussian Silesia is sold, the greatest part of the wool offered for sale is wool of the middle quality, and that the amount of the high priced qualities is small in proportion to that of the lower priced ones.

These markets are visited by the manufacturers and wool merchants of England, France, Belgium, Russia and various other parts of Europe. The finest, best assorted, well washed, and that which is carefully packed, without having recourse to plaiting, or increasing the weight by moistening it, &c., brings the highest price. It is, therefore, an object with the German wool grower to prepare his wool for market in the best style. The wool grower has an opportunity at these markets to become acquainted with all the different kinds of wool grown in his country; he can obtain a correct

knowledge of what is in demand, and he is enabled to learn the best mode of breeding, washing, packing, &c.

Similar markets will become necessary in the United States, because here the wool growing regions are too extensive. The wool growers of the west, for instance, are too far from the eastern markets. On the other hand, the manufacturer is not able to visit all the flocks over the whole Union in order to become acquainted with the products of his country. The wool grower, remote from the great mart, is ignorant of the true value of his wool, and depends entirely on the neighboring merchant, who obtains it generally for a low price, whereby the wool grower becomes discouraged. Had Ohio, for instance, a wool market, where all the wool would be brought together from that state at one point, say Cincinnati, the manufacturer of the east would find it advantageous to visit that market and purchase such wool as he requires for his fabrics, and the wool growers who grow better qualities could obtain such prices as they deserve-they feel encouraged, try to improve their flocks, and gradually furnish the manufacturers of this country with a wool he now has to purchase in the foreign markets.

XIV. On the Wool Trade of Germany, and other countries.

The following articles from the pen of J. G. Elsner, a distinguished agricultural writer, who has devoted his long life to the subject of wool and the wool trade of Germany and Europe, is believed to be well worthy of being submitted to the American wool grower, as showing in a very short space the views of the German wool grower on this important branch of agricultural industry. He thus becomes acquainted with the state of the present German wool market, and their speculations for the future; and he will see therein the principles which they have laid down to be guided by, in order to retain the reputation of their markets. It will be difficult to take from Germany the palm, having already a superior improved breed of merinos, well informed and attentive shepherds, and highly industrious wool growers. But Mr. Elsner is mistaken in the belief that highly improved sheep do not last well in the United States. The fact is, we have yet had very few highly improved sheep imported, and the few which were brought here have been neglected in consequence of the want of knowledge or that indefatigable attention which the merino sheep requires. As far as my own observation goes, I have found that the wool grown in the United States has a remarkable softness. I have not yet seen wool from highly improved sheep. The samples which came under my notice were, with the exception of a few instances, from good half-bloods, but even that coarse kind had a high degree of softness.

Why should not we, in countries like Virginia or Tennessee, where nature has done every thing for the sheep; given an excellent soil, which produces the best kind of grasses; a climate like that of Italy, only a few weeks winter, where the sheep must be housed and fed;-why should not we, with such advantages, produce a wool which can compete with European wool, of a similar degree of fineness, in cheapness? We must first, however, learn how to grow an even, well stapled fleece; we must learn how to wash it well, and how to assort it and pack it well.

In order to show the wool growers the extent of consumption of wool in this country, exceeding the amount grown, I have obtained from the office of the Register of the U. S. Treasury the annexed table. It will be

seen that the wool imported for the first two quarters of 1847 amount to three millions and seven hundred and two thousand pounds:

Amount of Capital engaged in the Wool Trade of Germany.

It is by no means easy to give an exact statement of the number of sheep kept in Germany. According to the statistical tables published from time to time, they exceed thirty millions. On an average, 100 head furnish yearly two cwt. of wool; and if this amount be not fully attained every where, the deficiency thus arising is made up by the excess of sheep above thirty millions. The yearly production of wool may therefore be set down as amounting to 600,000 cwt. Not that this entire quantity, however, comes into market; for a goodly portion thereof goes from the hands of the grower directly into those of the consumer; as is particularly the case with the inferior sorts. I cannot be far from the truth, when I estimate the quantity thus passing directly into the consumer's possession at one-sixth of the entire production, so that there are left for the market 500,000 cwt. As to the average prices of this quantity, it must be observed that it is made up of two different classes of wool, viz., wool of northern or of southern Germany, the former of which is by far the most valuable. To the first of these two classes belong the markets of Silesia, Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Magdeburgh; and it should be noticed here that the breeding of sheep in the northern provinces, being carried on upon a much larger scale, the amount of wool grown in the north is far greater. Still the difference which thus arises is made up again by the territory of the southern provinces being so much larger; for with the southern provinces I also class the western portion of Germany, viz., all the Rhenish provinces. I have made this division of Germany in accordance with the quality of the wool, and hence have reckoned to northern Germany also Moravia, which is made a competitor of Silesia and Saxony, and in this manner the proportions will be pretty equal, so that I may fairly set down for either 250,000 cwt., or one-half of the wool brought into market. The prices for the last six years (previous to 1845) having been in northern Germany, (on an average) 65 Prussian thalers, (equal to $47 50*,) a cwt.; the 250,000 cwt., amount to 16,250,000 thalers, (equal to $11,375,000;) while those for southern Germany, on an average, are 10 thalers, (equal to $7,) i. e. amount to 55 thalers (or $38 50) a cwt., which makes for the south a total of 13,750,000 thalers. Hence there circulates in Germany in the wool

* Reckoning the Prussian thaler at 70 cents

market every year a capital of 30,000,000 thalers, (equal to $21,000,000,) in which 100,000 cwt. of wool are not counted, which are sold by the producer directly to the consumer, and which, if set down at four millions of thalers, (equal to $2,800,000,) would certainly be rated too low.

XV. On the Export of Wool from Germany, &c.

The yearly export of wool from Germany is already of considerable extent. To give a correct idea of it, we will state the countries to which it is exported. England continues to bear the sway as heretofore. Her purchases in the German markets, although they are no more than what they were a few years back, are to such an extent as to influence, nay, determine, the prices of wool. Now, the English buyers (as has been found of late) are in search more of the middling than of the superior sorts of wool, and on the ground of this observation it has been asserted that the raising of middling wool will in future be more advisable, and reward the owner better than the raising of fine quality. Should this opinion become general, it would give a deadly blow to wool production in Germany, since, as I have shown, it is only the excellence of their wool that can secure them customers, and that can keep up this branch of industry so as to remunerate the proprietor. In order to understand correctly what the English purchasers are attempting in their inquiry after middling sorts, it will only be necessary to observe which of the middling sorts they really select. It then will be seen that it is the wool of those flocks which are of a particularly good breed, namely, such as is obtained from flocks of noble descent, and as are constantly improving, and where, at the same time, by means of a superior treatment, an article in every respect valuable is obtained, and this, considering its relative fineness, at a fair price. The English find it to their great advantage to buy these kinds of wool, and they seize upon them in the very sight of the less clever domestic purchaser; and they themselves admit that the Silesian wool possesses in an eminent degree all the qualities required for their manufactures. Shrewd merchants as they are, they soon discovered that it is most profitable for them to buy the middling qualities, that by being carefully sorted out, will increase their profits. The yearly import of wool by England from Germany may be estimated at from 20 to 25,000 bales, at four cwt. each; hence it would make about one-sixth or seventh of the entire production, but for the fact that under the narae of German wool a large quantity of Hungarian, Polish, and Russian wools, is sold in the wool markets, and is called in the lists of exports to England. The latter report, when reduced to what it actually is, can scarcely amount to 15,000 bales (or 60,000 cwt.,) hence about the tenth part of the entire production of Germany.

The Dutch and Belgians, as the foreign customers of Germany for wool, rank next to the English. They are much older customers than the latter, although the quantity they buy is not so large. Of late they likewise inquire more frequently after good. middling sorts, than those of the finest qualities. The latter, however, are bought especially by a few houses of Belgium and French Netherlands, for which good prices are paid. The wool dealers of these countries go in person to the German markets to make their purchases; still, at the same time most of them have some friends among German firms of inferior rank, to whom they give their orders and instructions, and who, as soon as the least prospect for a favorable period of business turns up, are regularly the first to lay hold upon