WOOL GROWING IN CALIFORNIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 537, 15 March 1862, Page 7

WOOL GROWING IN CALIFORNIA.

(From tho .<?. A, .?,'•.•,•.,*«•.) • In r:riju..]o- t'u (.■omiiisrcLl history of the Briliali co'oiuc.s, la-re are tow filings more striking than the rapid development of their flocks a-.d herds. Of tho enormous imports of wool into England, at least twi>-thh\b are from the colonies, and nearly one-half of the total importation is from the Auslv.iiiaa ethnic? The stafi'sties ot the iJourd of ".-.i Uj i! u-i i\^e in a remarkable nummr riio tvaustl-rui-.j of tiiis most important brunch of industry fr>ui for^n to colonial soil, nor is '.here any reas.ni whatever to suppose tliat the colonies have attained the maximum of production as regards this great comm.rciai staple. Oa the contrary, the opening up of fresh territory,'tiie gradual enulHuion of disease to which sheep are liable, the permanent improvement of pastures, and last, but not le.ist, the steady progress making in the improvement of breed— all point to v future that shall lar^h' surpass anyi thing yet attaii/Ci]. And in this lionoiviblc competition we tnibt South Australia, under wise Jotrislation, and with the blessing of Providence, will earn a fair distinction and reap a proportionate reward.

In order to this end enterprise and self-reliance are no doubt essentials, but at the same time none are too wise to learn, and the really practical man will thankfully avail himself of whatever hints may be famished by other practical men engaged in his own line of business. Acting on this supposition we proceed to lay before our readers interested in pastoral pursuits, a few extracts from a valuable report lately read before the " Califoruian Wool Growi lg Convention," held at Sacramento. We should premise that th-j Californian squatter has recently passed through a season of great trial— in fact, his position is said ; to be scarcely better than that of the New South Wales squatter, prior to the establishment of a minimum price for sheep through me ins of the boiling down establishments. It ia not, however, quite clear why tiiere should be such a pastoval panic in California. The population is numerous, the market for mutton absorbs a considerable proportion of the flocks, the numbur of shevp in j the Mate is only one million and a half, and the last clip yielded four and a half millions of pounds of woo!. No doubt the bulk of this is coarse wool, but still it is a large export considering the other demands upon the market, and as the average increase is said to be 93 per Cent., it is difficult 1o account for tho tone of despondency that lias prevailed. The report above alluded to states, however, that the worst is passed, and it further proceeds to specify the means adopted by a few enterprising flockmasters, for improving the quality of the wool and the character of the pastures. Both these points are of primary and yital importance, and we now proceed "to make a feY extracts from the report for: the information of those who have not seen the document itself. The report states that the average clip from Californian sheep is three pounds, hut that it would be much more if ordinary care was taken to introduce improved breeds. The cost of maintaining the flocks is set down at 7f> cents ench per annum, the increase (lambs being easily and safely rcared)9s per cent., and the net average profit (we presume this must be prior to the panic) 30 per cent. After a few general remarks the repcrt proceeds thus :—: — " Taking the reports that have been furnished us, and without any desire to constitute comparisons, we may mention Messrs. Godchaux and Blackburn's flock of imported Australian ewes, numbering I,ooo— yield of wool, C^ lbs. ; increase, by French Merino rams, 94 per cent. A grade flock belonging- to Mcssis. Flint, Bixbv, and Co., of 2,ooo— yield of wool, 7 lbs. ; increase by Spanish Mcriuo rams, nearly 100 per cent. The flocks of Messrs. W. K. Weston aud William Knox — mixed Southern, Leicester, and Merino, yielding 8| lbs. wool, and giving 123 per cent, of increase. The reports give the following result, and furnish a good comparison between the various breeds :— WWGHT OF nEWKri'i'rojr. in-ohease. wool. Australian Merino .. 94 per cent. 6jU!w. Grade Merino 89 do. fi-07 lbs. (.Trade Southdown .. 97 do. B '9B lb.-,. American 75 do. 4 lbs. (•Trade 91 do. 8 55 lbs. Mixed Southdown, Lei- „ cesier, and Merino ..124 do. 8 - 25 lbs. The report then rays — " As a general rule, our impression is that within the vicinity of tlie larger towns or cities, or within convenient reach of the mining districts, the raising of mutton sheep will for a term of years prove quite profitable ; while in the remote districts, and especially ia.the southern counties, the various Merino breeds will pay best. Yet we have met breeders of the Merino families who assert quite confidently that from an equal amount of pasture they can raise quite as much mutton, and of quite as good quality as can be produced by breeders of any of the distinctively mutton sheep. One fact seems to be pretty definitely settled — namely, that between the various families of Merinos, or between them and the Southdown, there is very littie difference i.i point of constitutional vigor, strength, and activity. In the general climate of California, and upon her tlbundant grasses they all thrive well, are prolific, and their lambs are'raised with great certainty. Depending, as we do, almost wholly upon Eastern or foreign markets for purchasers of our wool, it becomes highly important that we learn the charaoter of the demand, and how to prepare our stock to attract attention and render it most saleable." The report alludes to other flocks and flockowners, but we pass on to notice that the Californian Wool-growers' Association, not content with adopting measures to improve the quality of the wool, are with equal diligence engaged in considering how they may improve the pastures of the country, and increase their grazing capabilities. The report says — " Tlie association have paid a good deal of attention tf this subject, and recently received from the Sandwich Islands a small amount of one of their native grasses, called the Maniania, which, if it at all meets our expectations, will prove of inestimable value. It is said that this grass wili thrive on the driest and most barren soils, spreading rapidly where scarcely any other vegetable can obtain a foothold, producing an immense amount of food, which is§eagerly appropriated by all kinds of stock, and when once rooted is almost ineradicable. We are now propogating this gra^s, and intend, when a sufficient amount can be obtained, to distribute it among the members of this Association, and thus test its adaptability to the soils ami climate of all sections of the State. Whatever may be the result elsewhere, we are satisfied that it will thrive on all those lands contiguous to the coast or bay, and in time, wiih very little care, cover the brown and barren hills with perennial verdure. As an ornamental grass it excels anything we have yet seen, and our island correspondent says—' I have no doubt but it will prove with you, as with us, the most valuable g«-ass for stock of all kinds, as well as the most useful for ornamental gardens, &c,' Analogous to this is the grass variously designated as the Bermuda grass, Cumberland grass, wire grass of Virginia, or creeping panic grass. Bermuda grass, well set, affords the finest and most nutritous feed I have ever seen ; will keep almost any number of sheep to the acre — three or four times as many as the best blue grass. We are fully aware of all the objections made to the spreading of this grass, and have a practical knowledge of all the trouble it occasions -, and having also had several years' experience of its great, its incalculable vale, we have no hesitation in stating that the latter is many fold greater than the former. The excellence of this grass for pasturage is evinced by two circumstances. It is preferred by stock of every description to all other grasses, and it grows luxuriantly on every kind of soil. It possesses an I additional advantage — that of binding the loosest and most barren sandy tracts. But when it has t once taken possession of close rich soil, its extirpation is so difficult as almost to defy the skill, industiy, and perseverance of farmers. It is used to bind the levees on the banks of the Mississippi, nnd of railroads. We saw it at Macon, Georgia, Charleston, South Carolina, and so on as far north as City Point. One hundred pounds of grass affords upwards of fifty of dry hay ; and we do cut, as a regular crop, five tons of hay to tho acre each season. No other grass will yield such an amount of valuable hay, surpass it in nutritive qualities, support on an acre of pasture such a quantity of srock, will improve the s.oil so quickly, for so effectually stop or fill up a wash or gully. In this plant you have grass which is not "nly palatable and nutritive, but which will yield more than double, both of pasturage and hay, than the best grass or clover of the Northern States. It has been tried as far south as New Orleans, and the climate found no detriment to it. It will flourish on dry and barren sands. What more can the Californian grazier ask ? The very fact of its tenacious hold upon the soil, when once introduced, i adds to its value on tens of thousands of acres of our hilly lands, which mustbeior over devoted to efcifgohang. etock," . .. _ „. |