The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-06-03
BRANDON, Thursday June 3, 1917.

taggs and filth removed.
In another case, the same day, lot of WOO
was brought in which was sorted in No. 2
last year the wool from the same sheep was
sorted in No. l. But this year the farmer haC
neglected to shear the sheep at the proper
time a depreciation in consequence had
taken place. Large clips, Notwithstanding
their being sorted, are kept separate from all
others.
1t is brought sometimes in sacks and some
times in sheets sacks are supplied to any
farmer who may want them, at the cost of
the material, or if returned in good order, at
only charge of one shilling per sack for its
use; where sacks are brought by the farmer,
if in good order, fifty cents is allowed for them
unless requested to be returned. Every
charge for transactirg the business, save that
of insurance, Is covered by a commission of
one cent per pound. The insurance is one
quarter of one per cent for each three
months. The wool is sold only when ordered
by the owner.
At first sight, many farmer may imagine
that he can save this commission of one cent
per pound by selling to the wool factor but
does anv man suppose that the wool factor
works for nothing? He is either paid a COM
mission no less, or makes profit much larg-
err than this. The farmer who places his wool
in the depot for sale, has the advantage Of
knowing precisely the cost of sale, while he
who sells to the wool factor is utterly ignorant
of the charges he ncurs. One thing is GER
tain, the wool factor has his pay, and they
are not heard often to complain of its made
quacy.
The probability however is,that in all cas-
cs, owing to the sorting of the WOOL both as
to quality and as we'll as to condition, Its price
is enhanced more than enough to cover the
agents commission.
Wherever it is required an advance is
made for two-thirds of the value, for which
interest is charged at seven per cent A
friend of mine sent his wool to the depot for
the sake of receiving this advance. His wool
was sold for five cents per pound more than
he could have obtained for it at home, by
which he saved not onl y his commission and
interest, but much more.
No where, in the course of my visits, have
! found any one buying or selling wool. Yet
many arc anxious to sell. AT the Undertook
de pot wool can always be sold at the market
price. But few are likely to be suited with
present prices. Be it SO. Any who need the
money can obtain two-thrds of the market
value at once, and then wait, if so minded
until the prices mend or the market is set
tied.
This year stapler has been added to the
concern. A sample is selected from each of
the different sorts and presently will be sta
pied The manufacturer will thus be able to
buy his wool understandingly, and know pre-
cisey the value of his purchase.
Through this arrangement the farmer and
the manufacturer are brought together under
favorable circumstances, each knowing the
precise value of the commodity about which
they are bargaining.
| have complained good deal of tho
ufacturer for not paying discriminating prices:
let me apologize for him however somewhat.
The value of wool is determined by close and
critical examination. No stapler can come
within five cents per pound of the true value
of fine wool, unless he examines it under IA
vorabe circumstances. At all events he can
not do it in the dark garnet or gloomy wool
loft of the farmer He must then, when
prizing fine wool in these places, guard against
error, and he will so guard as to make the
wool cost no more, at any rate, than it is
worth. Can you blame him How much
better then is it for you to sell your wool
when its value can be as accurately determn-
ed, without the chance of error, as if examn-
ed at the stapler's bench.
Some facts very interesting to the breeders
of fine wool have been elected by the manu-
facturers who have patronized this establish
ment. will not &C into detail, but state one
or two differences which | have drawn from
them;
First no man should buy fine wooded sheep
without consulting the stapler; none but him
can determine the precise relative value of
clips of wool. A farmer may approximate to
it, but can not arrive at it exactly, nor can it
be settled by even the examinations of the
microscope.
A lot of grade wool, which if judged of by
specimen selected from the shoulder would
have been pronounced to be of the finest
quality, showed, on stapling conclusiyely, that
the fleece Oh the full blood sheep is by far tie
best.
Nor can any one carry on, Understandings
the breeding Of fine wooded sheep without
having their fleeces stapled. A lot of wool
was sold from the depot upon condition that
if the stapling would warrant it, an addition
would be made to the price. Each lot was
separately stapled, one supposed by the own
or, and by every one else, to be equal to the
best was found, ON stapling, unexpectedly to
run into the lower numbers Of the stapIer's
scale, showing to the owner that he had bred
in and in too much. Every one knows that
this will affect the hardhood and constitution
of the sheep, but who supposed it would af-
feet the curl and softness of the fleece.
A farmer having very superior clip of
wool, was induced last year to cross his ewes
with buck having a heavy fleece. One was
procured valued as high as $50. But when
the animal was shorn and the fleece brought
to the stapIer, although the wool looked fine
and soft, and was well washed, it was found
that a large share of the eight pounds which
it weighed was animal oil or gum He has
received the information in time to prevent
serious calamity. Allowing him to be perfect
ly correct in his plan, the animal in question
was not the proper one to be used.
Another farmers clip which was believed
I