The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-29

wool that would be likely TO retain flth. Very
early wishing often proves injurious and espe-
oay IL this true 10 regard TO fne. wooed sheep IL
should be delayed until the warm weather has fully
| commenced, which Is usually not until June. when
the water becomes sufficiently warm TO facilitate
the removalof the filth from the WOOL Too early
washing and shearing often expose the sheep to cold
storms and the chilling effects of cold nights, with
out the necessary covering provided by nature for
them; while too late shearing exposes them 10 the
| rays Of a hot, burning sun, before the new growth
of wool has attained sufficient length TO shield
them from its effects.
The manner of washing sheep must necessarily
vary, for all have not equal facilities. Pools of
stagnant water should be avoided. Better not to
wash at all than have your hocks poorly washed;
for, if not washed, you arrive at the value of the
fleece, compared with clean wool, by a we'll known
and established rule of discount. The best mode is
to use running stream or u vat with a stream Of
water, having fall Of few feet, pouring into it.
Just previous to washing, the sheep should be tho
roughly wet without squeezing the WOOL aud suf-
Tered to stand crowded together for few hours,
until the soapy substance, and oil, or gum, which
the wool contains, unite; when again taken into
the water, and the wool squeezed with the hands,
the whole Of the filth readily separates from the
wool and passes off with the running stream In
| the common mode of washing, the soapy substance
first passes out of the wool, only partially uniting
with the oil and gum, after which il is impossible
To remove the gum--no matter how much time
may be spent in washing. Care should be taken
TO wash the fleece thoroughly in all its parts !
have seen frauds attempted TO be perpetrated by
washing the back and sides, and leaving the belly
and skirts unwashed, which, in rolling up the
fleece, were carefully concealed. After washing,
the sheep should be suffered to in clean green.
sward pasture sufficient time for the wool TO get
dry, which is usually in four or five days, and then
shearing should commence. Very large ilocks
should be divided, and the washing done at differ
ent times, or they will run too long before being
shorn. The place assigned to the flock when col
ected for shcarng should be well Uttered with
straw, and kept clean, so as to prevent the filth,
consequent upon their being close together, from
getting upon the wool.
In shearng, great should be taken to keep the
fleece whole. Each clip of the shears should sever
part OF the wool from the sheep, and a second clip
either that part OF the animal the part of the
fleece just severed, should be avoided; fn clippings
thus made are useless and total loss After shear
ing, the fleece should be removed to a table, or
clean smooth place the floor, with the inner part
down; then gathered up into compact position
as it occupied when on the sheep; the sides of the
fleece should then be folded over, far to meet
on the back Of the fleece, the head and neck thrown
back TO make the fold upon the shoulder; next
be folded rolled from the butt of the fleece and
continued until you reach the shoulder. The fleece
should then be snugly tied with small smooth
twine, passing around two, or at most three times.
fou thus have a compact fleece easy to OPEN and
the shoulder which is the finest part, upon the out
side Buyers always expect to the best side out,
and wool growers sometimes do themselves nus-
tice by not thus exhibiting their heeces. | do not
believe that the manufacturers n whole in this
country, are yet prepared to pay sufficient adj
vance beyond the present prices, to justify the
grower OF wool in removing all of the irbs, belly
locks, and skirts from the fleece, is done with the
fine woods OF Germany. would therefore, at pres
ent, put inside of the fleece all the we'll washed and
clea, wool shorn from the sheep; carefully cxclud-
ing all such locks filthy below the residue
Of the fleece in condition
For fear of extending this communication to too
great length, would refer your readers to the
prize essay this subject written by the honora-
Bile Daniel S. Curtis, and published in the transac-
tons of the New York State A gricutural Society for
lS4S, pages 2f5, &c. This essay contains many
valuable hints on the subject of sheep husbandry.
Hon. THOMAS EwBANK,
Commissioner OF Patents