Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-06-05
THE =, FARM.
From the Journal If Commerce.
w o o l..


liable both to the farmer aud merchant. II
was elected by the following note, dated
NEw YoRx, May 16, 1916.
Dear Sir :-You have been engaged for
tho year past in exporting American woods
10 various markets in Great Britain, aud must
have acquired much valuable information
respecting the manner in which our woods
should be prepared for those markets. Such
information is much wanted nv our farmers
and wool dealers; for il is evident that wool
is to be hencefurth an important article of
exporta,on from the United States. Allow
Us, then, to inquire, whether you will not do
Us the favor to write out your Impressions for
the Journal of Commerce.
We are, sir, YOUR Ob't servants,
HALE e. HALLOCK.
HAMmToN GAY, ESQ.,, So SoutIl.st.
New YoRK, May 16. 1876.
Messrs. Hale T. Hallock:
Dear SIrs-I have your favor Of this days
date. Such information as ! can give on
the subject Of your inquiry, is at your SER
vice. Tor the benefit Of those interested.
More than one half Of all the American
Fleece Wool exported from the U. States, of
the last years clip was owned and shipped
by myself and by others having joint inter-
est with me. The purchases were all made
al 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 SIS ,093, and 1873 bales
Of wool We, unscld-equal only to the frac.
ton Of penny sterling on each pound. Not
nf I'm
payment Of drafts drawn against il, nor was
any portion Of it unduly pressed upon the
market land 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 injuriousiy in foreign mar
keis by its unclean condition. 1t contains
too mucl, oil, aud yok, and dire. The sheep
are generally washed will, 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
snr, it and scour i, in soap and water, before
IL is sold to the manufacturer.
The wool itself is Of superior staple, ard
while upon the sheep is inferior to no other
IN Tue world, Of equal grade; and it may he
safely stated, that every pound Of oil, or 9TH
or worthless substance, wilt, IN the English
uarkeis, deduct from the value of the wool
containing it, the price, at least of two pounds
Of WOOL. English manufacturers and sta
piers, before purchasing, open a portion of
the fireces, and examine carefully, not only
the fineness, but also the strength Of the sta
ple, and its condition throughout.
The first important operation in preparing
our fleece wool for export, is TO properly
cleanse it before shearng. The sheep should
be washed in clear running water-thc water
must run freely through every past of the
fleece, aud the wool and every part of il
should be pressed and worked with the hands
while under water. until the DIRT and oil are
removed, and the pater runs off clear. The
shsaring should then take place as soon as the
sheep becomes dry after washing.
Then comes the tying up of the Aeeces.
All the loose locks, clippings and tags, and
every thing unclean, or Of an inferior quail
", and the coarse wool from the thighs, il
,here be any, should be wholiy rejected, and
the Aceces tied up firmly SO as to keep their
shape, and show, as is customary, the best
Dart Of the fleece on the outside.
This terminates the wool growers part ;
tut will here remark, that sheep should be
kept as nearly as possible in unifnrmly good
health and flesh, because every portion of the
stapie or fibre Of the wool which grows while
the sheep is very poor from disease or want
Of food, has SO liule strength as to break in
working; and If this weak growth takes place
in the f.ll of the year, it destroys the fleece
for many purposes.
The next step is To properly sor, and sack
the feeces, and direct them to the best mar.
kst. This is the merchants part, aud NOR.
than shippers profit depends upon its being
psr(ormed Understandings.
In England each manufacturer dev0tes hi
attco,ion TO one particular description o
goods, for which his machinery has been con.
s,ruc,ed, and he makes no other. The ma
kers of each kind Of goods have established
themselves mostly together in some one par
of the kingdom, where they have WOO
market Of their own, in winch they seek fo
the Qualities and descriptions suitable for ihei
purpose. and will buy no other. The Broa,
Cloth makers in the West of England-lhe
Wors,ed Cowbers of Yorkshire-the Elan
mel manufacturers of Rochedale-and lhos,
Who make Hosiery in Noting
tntlr SettVdi uudtNcts supply SillhOlt
only for their own machinery. So nice doe.
this discrimination run, that the Heeces of fine
wool, taken from sheep one year old whicI
were never before shorn, are mostly sent to
ono par, Of the country and there sold 10 be
vssd for one purpose, and the heeces taken
from the same sheep the next year, are sem
10 another part Of the country, and theirs
wrought into very different Kind of goods
Thus il is of gres, importance that aeec,
wool for shipment, bsfore il goes on board
.houId be sorted and sacked according to the
grades Of Foreign Manufacturers and suitable
5or ,heir purposes, in order that it may be
.old directly TO them otherwise. even # clear
and in good order, i, mnst pass first through
other hands, that sort it, re-sack It, ant
distribute il 10 various parts Of the k'ogdo"
al considerable expense. .e. 49,. .
She size of tho bales is the next thing Il
be kept in view. have paid on large ship
msn,s as high as ono dollar per bale TO
'Doek Dues, without reference 10 the size o