The Ottawa Free Trader

AGRICULTURAL.

From the Chicago Democrat,

Interesting to Wool-Growers.

Buffalo Wool Depot,
July 15th, 1847.

Hon. John Wentworth,

Dear Sir: Having been somewhat of a wool-grower, I have felt, in common with any man engaged in the business, the importance of a system that would enable us to get a fair price for our wool.

The first successful attempt was made three years ago by Mr. Blanchard at Kinderhook, at the suggestion and under the patronage of Dr. Beekman, the then President of the New York State Agricultural Society.

The plan of the establishment is to receive the wool from the farmers, sort it into 8 kinds, to enable the manufacturer to get just the grade he wants. By so doing the farmer gets the full market value for all his wool. Together with some of our neighbors, we sent our wool to him last fall. During the winter I visited the establishment. From what I saw and heard from the manufacturers whom I met there, I became satisfied that this was the true way to sell wool. I then made arrangements to have one opened here to be conducted upon the same principles.

I opened this depot the first of June, as auxiliary to Mr. Blanchard's and have been, and am now daily receiving wool, which is properly sorted by a competent sorter, and as fast as it accumulates is taken by the manufacturer. The charges are one cent per pound for receiving, sorting and selling. The insurance, which is about 25 cents per $100, for three months, and interest where advances are made.

I have thus far been enabled to get from 5 to 10c. more per pound than could be otherwise obtained, and one reason is, that the manufacturer gets only the particular sort which he wants, and is not compelled to buy that which he does not want.

In receiving western wool some facts have come to my knowledge which are important to be known by all wool-growers in your region. I received a lot of wool from Wisconsin which had been shorn from a flock of sheep driven from Genesee county in this State some two or three years since. The flock had been divided and a part reserved in the county. The wool from both branches was brought together at my depot the other day. The western was dark and had a dirty, bad appearance; the other was as white as snow. But in sorting I noticed that the western wool of the same quality appeared lighter. I directed the sorter to select fleeces of equal quality and weigh them. We found that the western ranged from four to seven ounces lighter than the others; averaging about five ounces.

The western sheep were better kept and the unwashed fleeces of the same grade were nearly one pound and a half heavier than the unwashed fleeces of the sheep here.

This led to a further investigation, and the result was that the western wool of the same grade, in like condition is actually worth one cent per lb. more than eastern wool.

I account for it as follows. The annual burning of the prairie causes the black dirt which accumulates upon the wool during the season, and this dust is of an alkaline nature and becomes minutely blended with the grease and yolk of the wool. On washing the sheep it forms a soap which purifies the wool to a much greater extent than can be done here, and hence its lightness, and consequently its increased value.

Several manufacturers who have examined the wool side by side, come to the same conclusion, as to cause, and real value of the wool.

It is urged against your wool that it is in bad condition. I think that if well washed and put up, it should not bring a less price because of its color, but rather an increased one. At any rate I would advise growers to make no sacrifice on that account.

Very sincerely yours,
T. C. PETERS.