Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-08-24

I
stsved cloths onwhich account, | would
recommend a quantity of bees-wax to be
melted with butter, hogs lard, or olive oil,
and if any tar be used, that it should not be
| in greater proportion than one quart to ten
| mounds of the mixture. In mid situations.
| where the sheep are well sheltered from the
rain or where they feed on soils that have
neither lime nor chalk, a.less tenacious ONT
ment may be used, and tar discontinued as
an ingredient in the composition of the UNI
| guent.
By substit uting wax for tar, the preju~
dice whish exists against creased woods,
will be removed in a great degree, and the
advantage OF tie practice obtained. hose
who are unwilling to make the experiment
fully, might still greatly improve their focks
by slighter application OF a thin ointment
of olive oil and butter, Immediately after
shearing this would preserve the animal
from the effects of sudden exposure to cold
winds, and be of essential service to the
wool, though it would not produce all the
benefit which might be obtained from a
more tenacious ointment.
Since the preceding observations occur
red 10 me, have been informed that seye-
raj intelligent farmers in the north, have an
ticipated the recommt noiation 10 apply an
ointment at such time to sheep. Immedi-
ately after shearing, they rub small guam
,ity of olive oil ON the skin, which is found
to be OF great benefit, both to the wool and
the animal the application of tar and but
ter is made at the usual period with increas-
|. ed effect. Here il may be proper to notice
an account have read in the newspapers,
that person in the west OF England, had
discovered a composition which cured the
scab in sheep, and also increased AID I'M
proved the wool. This WAS stated TO be a
mixture ofhog's lard, butter and sulphur,
applied to the sheep, on which it was to re-
main three or four days, and then be care
fully washed off with Salt and water. The
proposer Of this mixture (Which is, in fact,
as ancient as the days of Virgil seems en-
tirely ignorant Of the principle whence the
improvement Of the wool is derived, and
has done what he could to counteract its In
auence. Sulphur and salt may be efGcacious
in curing the scab in sheep, but it is the
sunctuous matter only, that is OF service TO
the wool, BY washingit away, he would
entirely destroy its effect. 1t happened how
ever, contrary to his intention, to remain
In the wool, tor salt and water will not east
" combine with animal or vegetable OIL, or
wash hem away from the fleece. To this
portion ofthe ointment thus adhering to the
wool, we are to attribute any improve ment
which it received. 1t is circumstance
corroborative of the arguments Ill recon-
mendation of the practice OF greasing sheep
that those who have. given Us receipts Tor
the cure of any cutaneous dlstempers to
which sheep are liable, have been generally
obliged to mix their d,ugs, whether metal
lie oxycls or minerals, with some unctuous
matter !; and they have almost always IN
formed us that their prescriptions not only
cured the disease, but improved the wool.
The latter assertion, believe, was true,
nor could it be otherwise, it what l have
stated be correct, unless the drugs employ
ed were of very corrosive nature, and de
stroytd the sot,ening effects Of the ONT
ment.
have hitherto omitted to notice the i'm
provement which combining woods may re-
ceive from this practice. Those acquainted
with the different processes of cardlng and
combing, and the difference between the
worsted and wooden goods, will not expect
that the former will be equally improved
with the latter, by having the wool creased.
Sottness is not the chief excellence OF worst
edpieces, but fine, even spinning. Some e1'
periments, however, which have been lat
~ made on the finest creased combining
woods, have produced superior top, and
warn, to any ever before made from wool OF
tba n,t;,e Fno3;ch .hreed An INTELLIGENT