Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-08-21

IcoNTINUED.]

peratllrc, the frequent rams ana logs, tne
chilling winds, the gloomy skies OF Britain,
described by Tacitus in the first century
Tacit. Nit A,gric. and which still form
the character of our climate We must ad-
init that our situation is in many respects
unfavorable to the growth of woods OF the
best quality. The feeces frequently drench-
ed in rain their natural yolk mixed with
the soil and washed away and the animal
long exposed to the chilling effects OF eva
poration, or sudden change ct tempcra-
ture all these causes constantly operating,
must tend to prevent the production of wool,
which may equal that grown from the same
sheep, in drier, and less changeable cline.
Fortunately an easy and simple method pre-
sents itself Of counteracting the influence o.
these causes, and we must avail ourselves Of
it, to provide remedy for the incouyenien-
ccs of our situation, or in vain may we at
tempt to rival The Aocks of Spain, or SaXoay,
whatever be the breed Of sheep W. intro
duce. The hair may remain fine for some
generations, but the soundness Of the fibre,
and its sof, silky qualities will be lost. am
informed that the fine 4ocks Of Saxony, are
either clothed or housed in winter. 10 keep
the animal warm, and the wool cry and
clean. In Spain the attention given TO sheep,
BY changing their situations with the sea-
sons, is well known and the advantage
which the wool receives BY the animal be-
ing kept in more equal temperature is
considerable CVide conclasion 81 clap " J
but in England, where great attention 70 ex-
ternal causes acting upon the animal Is more
requisite, it is generally neglected In the
northern countries, AMI in Scotland, the in
clemency of the winter impels the shep-
herds to provide some defence Tor their
aocks: but it is done TO preserve the AMI
NAL, with little attention to its effects on the
wool. 1t will be shown, that the increase
and Improvement OF the wool, and the pre-
servation Of the animal, may be ensured By
the same means, not only in TIE noythern
counties, but in every part OF our island
and that in all situations, the wool NAV also
be defended from the injurious effects OF !.
calcareous soil.
The similarity between wool, hair, fca-
theirs, and horn, stated in the last chapter
may seem TO be an enquiry more interesting
to the phvsiologist than the wool grower i,
is however Immediately connected with the
object of,te present treatise. ! was led TO
the application Of it, bv observing the well
known effect produced TN human hair,
when daily washed with soap and wa
ter, aud comparing it with the same. hair
washed less frequently, and sometimes rub
bed with an urgent, as oil or pomatum.--
BY the former practice it became hard and
br.stly, BY the la,tert was rendered soft and
pliable. A little time after, an intelligent
clothier in my neighborhood, who kept
small flock Of fine woolled sheep, informed
me he had adopted the reprohatcd practice
OF our more northern farmers, OF rubbing
the sheep with mixture of butter and tar.
He could speak decidedly to the improve
ment the wool had received by it, having
The whole process of its ma
nufacture. The cloth produced was supe-
rior TO what ungreased wool could have
made,if equally fine lit was remarkably soft
to the touch, had what h. called, ga good
bottom, good top, and good hand, or
feel" viz. the appearance Of the threads
were nearly lost in firm even texture, co.
vered with soft full pile. The resemblance
between wool and hair, already mentioned,
presented to my view the cause OF this aaae-
Iteration. The wool had been defended
from the action of the soil, the rain, and the
air, on its surface, and had been kept soft,
moist, and pliable, by constant contact with
the unctuous mixture. Rejecting on the
well known power of unguents to soften hair,
horn, and other animal substances, it appear
ed surprising that its application to wool for
the same purpose, had not been more gene
rally prastised. From the similarity of wool
TO these substances, it occurred to me, that