Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-06-24
Suggestions to Wool Growers.

The following views, we copy at the re-
quest of friend from the circular ola firm
in New York. Although the season for the
purchase and sale of wool is pretty much
over for the present year, yet these sug'
gestions may prove useful for the future:
ssMore than one half of all the American
Fleece Wool exported from the United
States, Of the last years clip, was owned and
shipped by myself and by others having a
Joint interest with me. The purchases were
all made at the lowest point of the season;
beginning on the first day of September, and
closing on the 25th day Of October last
The result has been nett loss of $5993,
and 1873 bales of Wool yet unsold-equal
only to the fraction of penny sterling on
each pound. Not fleece Of the Wool was
sold to meet the payment Of drafts drawn,
against it, nor was any portion oft unduly
pressed upon the market ;-and this loss
arose from causes unnecessary, easily
avoided, and entirely within the control OF
parties in this country.
The prices Of United States Fleece Wool
are affected very injurlously in foreign
markets by its unclean condition. 1t con-
tains too much oil, and yolk and dirt. The
sheep are generally washed with too little
care, and run too long after washing before
shearing. A large portion of the wool from
this cause must pass through the hands OF
those who sort it and scour it in soap and
water, before it is sold to the manufacturers.
The Wool itself is of superior staple, and
while upon the sheep is inferior to no other
in the world, Of equal grade and it may be
safely stated, that every pound OF oil, or
other worthless substance, will, in the Eng
lish markets, deduct from the value Of the
wool containing it, the price at least of two
pounds of wool. English manufacturers
and staplers, before purchasing, open q
portion of the fleeces, and examine care
fully, not only the fneness, but also the
strength Of the staple, and its condition
throughout.
The first important operation in preparing
our Fleece Wool for export, is to properly
cleanse it before shearing. The sheep
should be washed in clear running water
the water must run freely through every
part of the fleece, and the wool and every
part Of it should depressed and worked with
the hands while under water, until the dirt
and oil are removed, and the ,oalsr runs off
clear. The shearing should then take place
as soon as the sheep become dry after wash
ing.
Then the tying up Of the feeces.
All the loose locks, clippings and tags,
and every thing unclean, or Of an inferior
quality, and the coarse wool from the thighs,
il there be any, should be wholly rejected,
and the feeces tied up firmly so as to keep
their shape and show, as is customary, the
best part Of the fleece on the outside.
This terminates the wool-grower's part !;
but will here remark, that sheep should bel
kept as nearly ns possible in uniformly
coed health and flesh, because every portion
ofthe staple or fibre ofthe wool which
grows while the sheep is very poor from
disease or wnnt Of food, has so little strength
Is 10 break in working; and il this weak
yrowtfl takes place in the fall of the year,
1 destroys the Heece for many, purposes.