Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-05-23
From the American AgricultuIst.
SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN SPAIN.
EXPLANATION OF WooL SORTING.

|. Refnd, or lst quality.
9 Find, or Cd do.
g. Iercerd. or Sd do.
4. Cdydo, refuse.
The sheep and shearers being dispatched the
first thing to be done is, to weigh and pack up the
feeces, and convey them entire TO place to be
secured, if they are to go out Of kingdom or to a
ny considerable distance within it; for the wool
is said to lose less than half of its weight in
the operation of securing, and often more when the
sweating has been violent, at least one half of the
expense of transportation is saved. AS soon as the
wool reaches the securing places, it is given to the
"Apartadores," whose business is to separate 1t
into three parcels of different qualities, denoted
by the above diagram. That taken from the back,
fanks and sides Of the neck of the sheep is regar-
ded as of the LIST quality; that from the breast bel
", sides of the launches, and from the back part
of the neck, the I'd quality; that from the cheeks
and throat the fore legs above the knees the hams,
and back part of the launches the 3D. quality and
that which is taken from the rump, the extremes,
and from between the legs is ofthe 4H quality, and
is comparatively worthless. Formerly, the Cd quail
ty was taken only from the launches and belly
the 81 quality, from the back part Of the neck, the
cheeks, throat breast, fore legs and hams; and the
4th quality, from the top of the head, the tall and
the extremities of the hind legs. Hence, differ
ent value is fixed upon each Of these classes OF
WOOL although it has long been custom in some
provinces TO sell the whole pile together at mean
price.
As soon ms the wool is properly assorted, it is
spread upon wooden hurdles and beaten with rods
in order to deprive it of as much of the dirt and
dust adhering to it possible previous to Its being
secured. In selecting a situation for securing
place, valley open to the sun is preferred, through
which runs a stream of pure water, and whore
there are inclined meadows sufficiently spacious for
drying the WOOL The fixtures and apparatus for
securing consists Of one or moro large copper cal
drons, mounted on q furnace and provided with ap-
proprlae cocks, pipes, cutters, &C., for conducting
hot water into three square pits or wells lone for
each class of wool) lined with masonry, and are a.
bout yard in Depth These wells are filled to
half of their depth or more with wool, upon which
there is let fall from the caldrons a current Of wa
ter heated to a temperature of 100 to 140 F., and
even higher, according to the degree of fineness
and the condition Of the article to be secured The
finer the quality and the more dirty the wool, the
higher it becomes necessary to carry the tempera'
ture. The wool, thus disposed, is turned in the
hot water in every direction with large fork or
some other Implement for space of five or six
minutes, and is then spread on wooden hurdles, a
yard or more in width situated alongside the pits
in order to drain off the water and filth which has
already begun to dissolve. Directly by the side Of
these hurdles is narrow acQueduct formed OF ma
sorry or stone, through which flows current oil
cold water, into which the wool is next thrown. II
s received at the head of the acqueduct, and is car
ried along its length by the force Of the current
being pressed and rubbed IN its passage by the feel
of one set of men, until is at last thrown by an
other, upon an inclined plane formed also of ma
sorry or of stone where it is left to DRAIN AT the
lower end of the aqueduct is placed a small net fol
catching such locks may accidentally escape the
washers above, and thereby prevent them from be-
ing carried away. As soon the wool is drained
it is spread upon the grass in the neighboring mead
ows, and in the course Of four or five hot sunny
days. it becomes sufficiently dry to be packed up
and sent away to the manufactures or to the places
of shipment. 1t is usually put up in canvass bags
of various sizes, on each OF which are marked al
initial letter indicating its quality, and other letters
or signs denoting The flock and sub division It is
from: SO that the experienced wool staper is ena
bed to distinguish at sight, the nature of each bale
and the cayana to which it belonged
Imperfect as this mode of securing appears, i
answers every purpose for preserving the wool dur
ing the longest voyage; and if similar mode
were adopted in the United States particularly witt
the fne-woolled races, or those the eeces of which
are intended for felts instead OF washing it oil
their backs is generally the case, it would doubt
less be much improved 1t is well established
fact that if wool remains in the yolk for perio!t
of six months or a year, and then be secured,
will yield greater weight Of clean wool than
washed when newly shOrn; but in the process o.