(_a_) Immediately upon the receipt of this letter of Mr. Grove's we
wrote on to Washington to ascertain the facts in the case, but were
answered that the census bureau was abolished, and they could not tell.
We know that when the person for taking the census in the district in
which we were then residing, called upon us, he required the number of
colts, calves, lambs, and pigs, although some of them were only three
days old at the time; and to our objection of rendering an account of
such young stock, he remarked, "never mind, they will be grown when
the census appears, and it is the law." Most of those to whom we have
put the question about rendering an account of the lambs in their
flocks, say they did so; others do not recollect. If there has been
irregularity with sheep-owners in giving an account of their lambs, of
course we are incorrect; and we think, upon reflection, we may have
estimated the number of lambs too high; though, on the other hand, we
are quite certain Mr. Grove has set them down as entirely too few; for
we know flocks that produce within a fraction as many lambs annually as
there are breeding ewes.
(_b_) Perhaps when Mr. Grove has travelled south and west more
extensively, and seen in the months of March and April, as many
half-bare sheep as we have, which shed their wool from disease, want of
care, &c., he may come to a different conclusion. We have often seen
flocks in the same condition at the north too, leaving many of our
farmers little to boast of in this respect.
(_c_) We have turned to the article to which Mr. Grove alludes, but
really, we do not find that we used the expressions attributed to
us. We said "Spanish Merino," also, "unadulterated Merino;" meaning
thereby, the Rambouillets more particularly. We also spoke in general
terms, in recommending the use of these. Such a flock of Saxons as Mr.
Grove's we would _especially except_; and if the accounts which we hear
of them be correct, and we have no doubt they are, we would not cross
them with anything less fine than themselves. They are unquestionably
superior animals, as is proved by their superior weights of fleece, and
the high price the wool commands; and we wish, since the name of Saxon
has been so basely misused in this country by miserable counterfeits,
that Mr. Grove would give his flock the name of Electoral; for they
and their descendants are probably the only ones entitled to it in
the United States. With this name, they would then fairly stand aloof
from the common herd, as they deserve, and not be associated in idea
hereafter, with the miserable riff-raff of the country, passing under
the general name of Saxons. It is our intention next season to call and
see Mr. Grove's flock.
(_d_) We meant to be understood as alluding to a cross on the coarser
and more restiff sheep of the country, when we spoke of obtaining an
increase of weight of wool on the same food, and we know that this can
be done.
(_e_) True enough, but we did not say these valuable flocks were
Paulars; nor did we go so far as to assert that they were pure Merinos
of any distinct name. We wish it understood, that we do not endorse all
the opinions of Examiner any more than we do other correspondents--he
speaks for himself, and we for ourselves.
* * * * *
_For the American Agriculturist._