American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-06-28
From he Vermont Rehub.tean and reamun.

/ From The Vermont Retiq6.ican and TeoMar
! SHEEP.-Since the manufacture of cloth ba,
become an object Of primary importance, any at
tempt to improve It's quality, and OF course its value
Cannot bot receive the cordial assent, not only of
levery farmer, but oil evey friendly to the real
independence OF his country. Perhaps, in no point
have the true interests ofour country been more ore
lJudiced, than in the inundating influx oil foreign
cloths. Perhaps the progress of national indeprn-
ldence, IN no individual instance, has been more re.
iarded, than In the strong Partially for cloth of
foreign fabric. In order TO manufacture cloth in
this country, that will successfully compete with
foreign fabrics, nothing is more wanting than re-
1uislle attention to the preliminary steps in the
process.
AS the season tor washing and shearing sheep
mas now arrived, and as the quality and value
| ~ the cloth depend much upon the manner in
which these are accomplished, permit me to recon.
mend to the farmers of Windsor County, the prac.
Ice have adopted and pursued for a series of years.
lfxPerlence testifes to its superior excellence I
take hogshead tub or potash kettle, and place it
Immediately in the vicinity OF The stream where
purpose 10 wash my sheep | then hea, water and
make strong soap suds, as hot as the hand can
conveniently bear. Then let TWO men take the
sheep, one at time and immense them completely
except the head IN this suds, and keep them in
minute or two until the wool becomes saturated
with It. The sheep then taken immediately
INTO the stream. and the wool at once assumes The
beauty and whteness Of cotton This process is
not only simple, but expeditions. then tuIn my
sheep into clean pasture, where they will have no
opportunity oil getting into the dirt, and thus njure
their fleece. If the weather is fair usually permit
an interval OF about three days between washing and
shearlng Though the wool will dry in two, yet
TOUR days are necessary to restore to it the natural
on and moisture from the Sheep which eonduces
so much TO its advantage.
Shearing, the next step in the process, demands
more attention than is ordinarily devoted to The
shearer should be extremely cautious that he does
not ca: he 7vooI but He should in no instance
mend his clip but should keep the sheep in such
position, that the skin may be smooth and thus ena-
bic him to cut the wool close and even. 1t may al.
ways be observed, that the extremties of the wool
OF yearling sheep that have never been shorn, are
much coarser than towards the body. The best
method 10 be adopted in such cases, that know Of,
Is tor the shearer to clip the ends before the sheep
is shorm
Alter the fleece are off, proceed to Gull and sort
the wool, with the utmost care and attention as
every thng depends upon proper division of the
WOOL 10 the manufacture OF the best cloth. My me-
thod IN making these divisions, has usually been
the following take from my best sheep about one
ouith oil the fleece, viz. from the shoulders as far
PACK as the ribs extend and generally half way
Gown the sides. This call No /, and lay it in
ciean place on the scaffod, where it cannot be in
Jureo oy the fowls or chaff. For No. 9. 1 take
strip OF wool farther towards the neck, down
the SIDES towards the hips, and place il with the
oest part OF the wool from my second best Sheep
and SO continue until have made about eight d.
visions, having reference to the length and quality.
MS consider about the proper number OF sorts
70 DC culed, in lots OF sheep generally. Too much
discrimination cannot be exercised in making these
DIVISIONS, as smali.quantiy Of coarse wool, mixed
WIN hne selections, will materially dimioish the
value of the cloth.
Alter my sheep are shorn, take about six pounds
81 outter SIX ounces of tobacco one pint of tar and
TWO ounces OF sulphur, or in this ratio, and nut them
INTO Kettle over small fire, stirring it frequently
Tor about one hour. then take it off and let it cool
lnth can Dear my hand in it. Then with cloth
lp' III TINS composition, rub the sheen and lambs
thoroughly This process will be found extremely
sanitary IN preventing the sheep from taking cold,
As the oil and tar will keep the dews and rains from
penetrating so much to the skin II also hastens the
growth OF the WOOL and the ensuing year it will be
ouhd 10 have increased the size and 6neness of the
ieeces' Without this application, the sun will for
!, iong time scorch the hides of the Sheep and by
losing the pores thus destroy the genial influence
y 'e halurai oil and moisture, necessary to the
spio growth OF the wool. The tobacco is added
destroy the ticks, which it effects in few minutes
'iter the application is made.-The object of the
'uiphur IS TO prevent dogs and wild animals from
the flock, which effect it will have for
ong time.
AS cleansing the wool, before il is taken of, is
nuch less expensive, it rs also much better. II
ieansed oJfer IT extracts the oil necessary 10 be
etalned and the wool becomes more harsh, and less
apable Of making good cloth.