ABSTRACT
B Y looking to the evidence given before the Committee of the House of Lords respecting the quality of British wool, it is admitted that its deterioration for the purpose of making superfine cloth is clearly established. It would, however, be more correct, with reference not only to the profit of the farmer, but for the good of the country, to denominate the alteration which has taken place in quality, change rather than deterioration; for with the increased weight of the carcase and the fleece, the farmer derives more benefit, the country has more food, and the manufacturer has a larger quantity of a raw material, more useful in one respect, requiring greater labour in the process of manufacture, and giving maintenance to a greater number of people: the change which has taken place is therefore in every point of view advantageous, and the intelligent farmer soon found it his interest, by turnip husbandry and altered cultivation, to increase the size of his sheep. A pamphlet was published recommending this system, by Mr. Trimmer, a sheep farmer, having a farm in the neighbourhood of Kew. He first published some letters in the newspapers, drawing the public attention to the subject, and afterwards published-
He divides his work into six chapters, and commences the first,—
" It is impossible that any person can have even glanced over the mass of evidence given before the Committee of the House of Lords, without being forcibly struck with the awful fact that this country, which once boasted of its native wool as the staple commodity,—clothing with it, not only its own population, but supplying also other nations largely with cloth manufactured from it, has now become nearly wholly dependant on a foreign supply of wool, for its clothing manufacture. In this volume of evidence it is stated, on one hand by the manufacturers, that British fine wool has greatly degenerated, whilst on the other, this is denied by the growers of it ; but as both agree in one point, that from the introduction of softer German wools, the habits and taste of consumers of cloth at home and abroad are changed, it is obviously expedient for this country diligently to improve its fine wools. In offering the following observations on the subject, as I speak not from theory, but long experience, and shall state nothing which I cannot have fully proved, I trust I may claim patient attention, and I feel assured I shall be able to show that this country is as capable as any other of producing fine wool.
