Transactions of the New-York State Agricultural Society for the Year (Volume 15) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856. Excerpt: ... The first annual fair of the Association was held at Bath, the 29th, 30th, and 31st days of May, 1855. The exhibition was in every respect creditable and satisfactory. The sheep brought together, in grade and quality, gave evidence that great care had been bestowed in the culture and improvement of the flocks of Western New-York. Sheep, producing the most perfect fleece, are said to have been brought from Prussian Silesia, where the finest wool and most thorough blood has been cultivated. The history of the Silesian flocks is as interesting as it is instructive to the wool growers of our own country, presenting all the features and details of his own experience in sheep husbandry. The Silesian flocks were derived from the best Spanish Merino, and, through a steady and undeviating progress of cultivation, have reached a degree of perfection unprecedented in wool-growing. All this goes to show us, that it is not so much the climate, or the soil, or the country--but that care, selection, enterprise, and perseverance, may result in high attainments, and in an elevated standard of excellence. The attempts made in our country to raise fine wool has progressively succeeded. Our first importations were made from Spain, which secured to us a large volume and weight of wool, but winch did not well compare with the Saxony in fineness and softness of staple. The advanced prices bid for extremely fine wool, some twenty-five or thirty years ago, induced our wool-growers to seek for sheep producing the finest and softest wool in Saxony and Silesia. These sheep, imported to our country, were noted for their fine, soft fleeces, delicate constitutions, and liability to disease. The price of wool has lately declined, and with it the desire to grow the light fleeces of the f...