Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-08-25

perior degree OF soitness to any ungreased
woods in the kingdom.
Hence sheep that have received the bene-
fit of this practice, and are driven into other
counties not remarkable for soft woods, still
preserve the distinguished softness of their
fleece. Hence we learn the reason why
ointments, when casually employed to cure
some disease Of the animal, have also gene
rally been found beneficial to the wool.
If these facts and differences be admitted,
we may also infer, that an improved method
of greasing 6ne-woolled sheep should be a.
dopted in every part of the kingdom, and
that it would greatly improve the quality OF
the wool, and annually save many thousand
sheep from perishing by the severity of the
! climate.
The only objection against the general in
PRODUCTION of the practice, will be found in
the prejudice or ignorance Of wool-dealeTs,
unaccustomed to purchase creased woods,
and unacquainted with their real value for
whatever may be their excellence, if the
wool-stapler be afraid to purchase them, the
growers viii not venture to introduce the
practice. The greasing recommend is IN
deed very different from the smearing with
tar, practised in the North of England and
were the sheep weilwashed, it would scarce
ly be perceived. Should some portion OF
the ointment remain in the Aeece, it will not
be difficult to ascertain the abatement Of
price which should be allowed for it. have
10 doubt, however, that the superior excel
lence of the wool will more than compen-
safe Tor the extra weight of the ointment.
An easy method of ascertaining the real
quantity OF ointment contained in each fleece,
is offered, by taking an equal weight Of the
CREASED and ungreased wool, after they are
washed and shofn, and securing them with
soap and VAIN water, and then weighing
the neat wool in each lot. The fine woods
of Northumberland, in the greasing of
which, one gallon Of tar has been combined
with 20 ID. OF butter, sell, when the feecc
is sorted, for an equal price, and have a
reader sale than The ungreased woods, which
would not waste SO much IN securing by e
or so ID. per pack Of 240 ID. II pack O:
. Northumberland CREASED woods, will make
less cloth than the other, its value VIA
he greater, and thus compensate the ma
q, tJctnrer, ] am supposing that the two
sorts are equally fine. To the noble and
distinguished characters, who have contri'
buted SO much towards the amsioration OF
the woods OF Britain, look for the INTRO
dIctlon OF the practice in the midland and
southern counties. Let th5m try the expe-
rment on the South Down, or other focks
let part OF the wool be sorted, and sent
with some ungreased Woo from the same
flock, equally fine, to an unprecedented ma
nuiacturer; let Ia. h De manufactured into
piece of cloth, and am confident, if the
trial be fairly made, the resalt will confirm
all have stated in the former par! OF this
treatise.
Let the sheep intended to be creased have
thin ointment Of olive oil, butter, or lard,
made into a soft pomatnm, and applied to
the skin Immediately after shearlng, Parti-
cularly en- the back and sides OF the sheep.
The second apple atlcn in November, will
IT quire more care, and an unguent of great
CT tenacity. Irepeae it again, that to make
the experiment succeed, the ointment must
be laid close to the skinny opening & d:v'd~
ing the staples with one hand, and applying
the mix,ure with the finger of the other
hand. Limestone Or chalk soils will make
larger quantity OF the ointment, or more
frequent application OF it necessary, to pre-
serve the wool soft. In situations much
exposed to rain, a small portion of tar might
be added, with advantage to the mixture,
on account of its teuacity; but if bees-wax
be also employed, a much less quantity OF
this diney ingredient will be necessary than
what is used in Northumberland, perhaps
not more than one quart to sixteen pounds
of butter. With iudicious attention to