Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-06-11
agricultural Department.
MOOL.

annexed
growth preparation, packing, &c. Of American Wool for
the English MARKET contains information which will be
valuable both to farmer and merchant 1t elected
by the following note, dated
New YoRK, May 16, 1876.
Dear Sir You have been engaged for the year past in
expurtng American Woods TO markets in Great
Britain and must have acquired much valuable information
respecting the manner in which our wool should be ppar
ed for those markets, Such information much wanted BY
farmers and wool dealers for evident that wool
be henceorth important article Of expectation from
the United States Allow then, to inquire whether you
will do the favor TO write your impressions for
the Journal Of Commerce.
We are, sir, your obt servants.
HALE & HALLooK.
Hamilton Gay, ESQ, SO south.slreet.
New YoRK, May 10Th, 1876
Messrs. Hale g. Hallock
Dear Sirs Il have your favor ofthls days date.
Such information as | can give on the subject Of
your inquiry is at your service, for the benefit Of
those interested
More 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 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 So, $685. and 1873 bales
of wool yet unsold-equal only to the fraction ola
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 of it unduy pressed
upon the market and this loss from causes unnec-
essary, easily avoided, and entirely within the con-
troll of parties in this country
The prices of United States Fleece Wool are al.
fected very injuriously in foreign market by its
unclean condition. IL contains too much OIL and
yolk, and dirt. The sheep are generally washed
with too little care and run too long after washing
before shearing. large portion OF the wool from
this must pass through the hands Of those who
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 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 English markets, deduct from the value
Of the wool containing it, the price, at least of two
pounds of WOOL English manufacturers and stap-
lers, before purchasing open aportion Of the fac
ces and examine carefully, not only the fneness,
but also the strength ofthe staple, and its condition
throughout.
The first important operation in preparing our
fleece wool for export is TO properly cleanse it be-
fore shearing. The sheep should be washed in
clear running water-the water must freely
through every part the fleece, and the wool and
every part OF it should be pressed and worked with
the hands while under water until the dirt and oil
are removed and the pater runs of clear. The
shearing should then take place as the
sheep become dry after washing
Then comes the tying up of the heeces.
All the loose locks, clippings and tags, and every
thing uncean, or of an inferior quality, and the
coarse wool from the thighs, fthere be any, should
be whOly rejected and the fleeces tied up firmly so
to keep their shape, and show, as is customary,
the best part ofthe fleece on the outside.
This terminates the wool-grower's part, but l
will here remark, that sheep should be kept
ly as possible in uniformly good health and flesh.
Esl.. H. e. l..
wool which grows while the sheep is very poor from
disease or want of food, has so little strength to
break in working; and it. this weak growth takes
place in the fall Of the year, it destroys the fleece
for many purposes.
The next step is to properly sort and sack the
heeces, and direct them to the best market. This |
is the merchants part, and more than shippers
profit depends upon its being done Understandings.
In England each manufacturer devotes his at
tention to one particular description of goods, for
which his machinery has been constructed, and he |
makes no other. The makers ofeach kind Of goods
have established themselves mostly together in some
one part of the kingdom where they have wool
market Of their own, in which they seek for the
qualities and descriptions suitable for their purpose
and will buy no other The Broad Cloth makers
in the West Of England-the Worsted Combers Of
Yorkshre-the Flannel manufacturers Of Roch-
dale-and those who make Hosiery in Nottingham,
BILE only for their own machinery. So nice does
this discrimination run, that the hecces of fine
wool, taken from sheep one year old which were
ueyer before shorn, mostly sent 10 one part Of
the country and there sold be used for one pur.
pose, and the aeeces taken from the same sheep
the next year, are sent 10 another part Of the coun
try, and there wrought into very different kind
Of goods Thus it is of great importance that
fleece wool for shipment, before it goes on board,
should be sorted and sacked according to the grades
Of Foreign Manufactures and suitable for their pur-
poses in order that it may be sold directly to them
otherwise, even if clean and in good order, it
must pass first through other hands, that resort it,
resack it and distribute it 10 various parts Of the
kingdom at considerable expense
The size of the bales is the next thing TO be kept
in view. | have paid on large shipments as high
as one dollar per bale for dock Dues" without
reference to the size Of the bales; while at some
ports the charge is less than tenth part Of this
sum.
Custom in England gives the purchaser an allow
ance on each bale called "The Draft !" but the
amount thus given varies at the different markets
| have many accounts of sales in which only one
pound weight per bale is deducted for "the draft"
have other accounts Of sales made in different
places in which 2bs., and 3lbs., and Abs, and
even Slbs. per bale is deducted for "the draft, /"
without reference to the size OF the bale This
may seem unreasonable, but it is established by the
ancient usage Of the different markets, and must be
complied with The bales should therefore be Of
a size suited to their destination; but not too large
else they will not be lifted, but rolled over the
docks and street. Each sack should be firmly
packed by man inside, but never pressed by ma
chineTy, and every fleece Of weak staple carefully
rejected, and those heeces packed by themselves
The shipment then requires some attention.