Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-06-05
EARLY sHBARING AND NO WASHING.

We have called the attention of the wool
growers of Maine to the subject OF early shear
ing of their sheep, and also the matter of dis
continuing the practice of washing sheep as
heretofoe. We are glad to find our ideas and
opinions corroborated by so able and expert
enced wool grower as Mr.. Campbell of Yer
mont. They were addressed to the editor of
the Ohio Farmer. The theory advanced is as
appropriate to the Maine flock masters as to
those of Vermont and Ohio.
"If you will pay me visit during the first
week in May. you may expect to find me shear
ing the Spanish Merinoes. l still believe that
early shearing is for the good of the sheep, and
if it were not for some prejudice existing
against early shearng think my feeces would
all be taken eff previous to, or by the first of
May. Many a man has been victimized by
sheep pedlars,' with early-shorn sheep, and
those that have been 'stubbed ), so that, if you
tell man that your sheep were shorn in April.
he is afraid there is something wrong. But, if
you can frankly say that your sheep were shorn
in May, there no fears of any deception.
AS soon as the weather gets warm enough
for vegetation to begin to put forth, the fleece
becomes burden to the animal and if one
has suitable stables, TO protect them in stormy
or windy weather. the sheep should be relieved
from its fleece at once
Any person who has never sheared early
would be surprised to see how little sheep mind
it, to have its fleece taken of before the weather
gets above the freezing point.
At recent meeting of the Farmers Club
in this place, the subject of wool growing was
the topic for discussion. Many of the " ool-
growers in this place have practiced shearing
early, and believe it is there unanimous opin-
ion that sheep will thrive better shorn as early
as the first of May, than if allowed to wear
their tleeces few weeks later. They had come
TO the conclusion that sheep did not suffer any
more when shorn early, than if delayed until
the hot weather. 1t was thought, that, TO take
flock Of fifty OF hundred sheep, and divide
them as equally as possible, the first of May,
and sheer one half at time, and let the bal
ance run until the LIST or the 10Th of June, be.
fore shorn, the early sheared ones would be in
much the best condition, and would go through
the summer and come out the best in the fall.
1t was further statad to let them all 90 with
their fieeces until June, and shear one half in
an unwashed, state, and the balance washed,
those that had not been washed would have a
better coat dark surface) in the fall, than the
others, and would sell, in any market for more
money. The only objection raised to shearing
without washing, was the fact that wool buyers
took the advantage, and would not pay a fair
price for tina wool. But, notwithstanding this,
many of our farmers will shear early, thinking
the advantage gained in the thrift of the sheep
will more than counterbalance the loss in the
price of wool.
If it is true that sheep do better by shearing
them early, and in an uawashed state, we may
ask why all wool-growers do not adopt the
practice. To my mind, there are several rea-
sons, one of which is that they have always
hnnF L al. 4
grandta'hers washed their sheep, and if there
had been any better way, they would have dis
covered it. Another reason is that large class
OF wool-growers believe that it is cruel and
barbarous to shear before hot weather comes
on, ana II is hard to make them believe that
sheep suffer more with heat, in wearing their
feeces, than from cold if taken off.
The principal reason, however, believe,
arises from the injudicous manner which the
manufacturer adopts IN buying wool. 1t is a
notorious fact that wool-buyers have alwavs
paid large premium on heavy, dirty wool #
they can only be assured that il has been washed
or pretended to have been washed Perhaps
manufacturers believe all wool-growers are So
stupid that they will wash their wool clean
when they pay about the same price for heavy,
dirty, wool, as for that which is put up in the
best order. If we Judge from the manner in
which they have always bought WOOL we have
reason to believe that they think we wool
growers are little dull, 1--WE grant it y but let
me say to you, Mr.. Manufacturer or Wool
buyer, that we are not at all so foolish as you
imagine, if you expect we will always put our
woods up in good order, when you will, year
after year pay just as much for dirty article,
as for that which is put up in the best condi-
ton. This you have done, and, no doubt you
will continue to pay better price for heavy, or
badly washed wool, than for that which is well
washedi and | can assure you that you will get
plenty of wool washed after the modern style,
as there is but little work in it. Formerly one
man would throw in for four or five to wash
but now it takes two men 10 throw in as fast
as one can wash. AS long as manufacturers
will pay for wool that has been thrown in the
water and only just wet, the price of good, clean
wool, think farmers will wash their sheepj