Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-06-14
WASHING AND snE\RING SHEEP.

The season iof washing and shcarng sheep Is nov
n, hand and We Wish 10 say few words tGcfcupln. -
We wish to impress upon reminds # those whohayc this
work before them, the mprupncy of washing the waal
after sheanng. as II generally the in Virginia. IN
stead Of before it, Ne have often heard this complain
I'd If by manufacturers and lately visited one 10 learn
the extent and nature Of the injury the wool by tins
method Ga every sheep there are SIX or seven diltr
emf qualities # weol. Even on thosr from which the
finest tiannes ma There E be found wool s.,
clarse rs To be fit only fl negm clothes ur blankets
Now, when the fleece simply taken ot the sheep and
brought 20 The manufacturer entire hc can open II and
separate the different qualities Of wool with perfect ease
and exacness distributing them in different parcels. In
3iii rent rtions Of Ills eslabls Uncut But when the
washing Of the wool done aerthc fleece taken from
fhe shoep all III different kinds OF wool are mingled
-p IN nexres5le confusion, the fibre being 81 matted
1Ifiher that no human power rtarac th,m. Thu
coarse being thus mingled with ,hc fine cloth of vrr,
rummon texture only can he made from parcel Of wool
She greater parl Of which, if there WAS any way Of sep
arating them, would have done for the very finest
Manufacturers, thSrelore always prefer the wool Winch
brought 70 them IN whole cocs to that which come,
IN mass, washed and picked and order their prices ac
cordinrly. They have machinery which win clear tn,
wool of burs, sticks, &c, far more perfectly than III,
hand can dot. and all that dirty, dslgrreable erlne
work which occupies every household IN that portion d
Virginia with which best acquainted may In
saved.
There are various methods Of washing sheep h,-4r
ne tiN@t common Is il 10 stand
water and plunge the sheep in when driven into him.
When the weather Is cool the operator is generally pa,
for his labors with cold or rheumatism With A IL
lie touble this unnecessary exposure is avoided Snl
tight hogshead or box IN the water, and lay slma pin
from IT'S edge 10 the shore. can then stand In il
have the sheep driven to him along this platform an,
ihus wash them without being for hours in the ualer-
One Of the most ecnal methods fwashinp the feec,
Is to turn rlvuei into large tub or water TIGHT box
and wash them in it with soap. pail or So of clean
water thrown them after this is DONE renders III,
wool very white and clean In Germany aud other Fn
ropean countries swift running stream or an arlicia
waterfall is used. The sheep are washed by driving
them through II repeatedly. by holding them unde
the Cascade. common method in the Northern STATE.
Is TO drive the sheep into small enclosed piece Of water
portion OF which is loo deep for the 10 touch bottom
and plunging them under aga and again When the,
come out should be taken press their eeces well
sc as to drain them of good deal Of the water because
iioo heavy. they stagger and fall. One of the IN 81
rational and best methods Of washing sheep is 10 dry,
them in the water let them stand or swim in it until the
wool becomes saursted with water and then back TO the
Shore There they should be allowed to remain until
they begin to steam, until the water begins To arise in ya
por and then drive them into the stream again and wash
them. by this means the wool will be much more per
fecily ceansed than if they simply driven in wash
cd, and then let alone. The dirt which adheres TO The
fibre becomes softeed the ynlk becomes united with it,
and on the second washing, all is carried off
We have favorable opinion Of the practice of using
llitle soap in washing the eece and it is easily done
when the washing ls in tub or box, il sometimes is