The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-06-01
WOOL FOR THE ENGLISH MAR
KETS,

The season is close at hand when sheep
must be sheared and the wool prepared for
market. Considerable of our wool has been
laiterIy sent TO England, and more of II
might undoubtedly have been sent there TO
good advantage, but that the bad condition
Of American wool has greatly, retarted its
sale and depreciqicd It's value. Mr.. Hamil-
ton Cav. of New York, who has been consid-
erabIy engaged in the expectation Of wool.
stated in a circular issued last year in refer
erence to the subject, that nearly all the
woul sent 10 England from this country in
lS45, was lessened in value TO the amount of
npenny, English, (about two cents per ID,
in Consequence OF the oil, yolk and dirt
which the fleeces contained.
Mr.. Gay directs that great care should be
taken TO wash the sheep thoroughly before
sheariag, and that they should be sheared as
soon as they become dry. That in tying up
the f~eeces, the loose locks, clippings, and
tags, and every thing ~unclean, or of an infe-
rior quality, together with the coarse wool
from the thighs, if there be any, should be
wholly rejected and the heeces tied up firmly,
SO as to keep their shape. and show, as is
customary, the best part OF the fleece on the
outside.
In regard to packing and sackins. he di
reefs that the wool, before it is put in sacks.
should be carefully sorted, according TO the
prndes Of foreign manufacturers. His d.
r~ec,ions on this point, are not however. suffi
cientIy minute to enable the wool grower
here tn fully understand what should be the
character Of the different sorts. lie says
The broad-cloth makers in the west Of
Eunland-lhe worsted cOmbers Of York
shire-ihe flannel manufacturer Of Roch-
dale-aud those who make hosiery in Not
tiu:ham-purchase in their several markets
a supply suitable only for their own machin-
cry. So nice does this discrimination run.
that The leeces of fine wool taken from the
sheep one year old, which were never before
shorn. are mostly sent to one part OF the
country and there sold to be used for one pur-
pose, and the fieeces taken from the same
sheen the next season are taken to another
part Of the country and there wrought into
a very different kind of goods
In filling the sacks, MIR. Gay observes that
the wool should never be pressed by machin-
cry, but carefully packed by a man inside,
and the feeces Of weak staple rejected and
packed by themselves.
Mr.. Morrell, in the american Shepherd
gives particular directions in regard to pre-
pdttuS Woot mdtkcl. DC TcCOIluuouuS
that the ~ieeces, as fast as they are taken
from the sheep, should be spread on table.
the outside uppermost. The fleece is then
carefully spread oct, the ragged portions
from the neck. head and skirts separated
md the fleece then made as compact as posi-
BILE, by pushing the sides towards the CEN
tire. The loose wool is then thrown upon
the fleece, which is followed by turning over
the sides and ends so as to form an oblong
stripe, say about two to three feet long, and
one aud a half wide. which is moved to the
front edge of the table. He then commences
to roll the long stripe. aided BY a boy al the
other enc of it, who lay their arms fiat from
the elbow TO press the wool as the rolling
proceeds, TIL the stripe is reduced TO six or
nine inches in width, depending on the size
Of the fleece. The boy then nouns upon
the table, and each commence rolling from
the ends OF the stripe Till the parts meet,
when the boy rolls bis portion on the top Of
his assailants. firmly pressing it till the Irvine
IS Passedr round both ways and tied, which
enectually secures the fleece, no matter how
roughly handled. After il receives a slight
pressure 1t presents somewhat the form Of a
cheese He earnestly e%njoins that the
neeees should be thoroughly cleaDsee and
no'ning Put within them but clean things