Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-09-26
OILY FLEECES---WAsHING WOOL,

A convention of sheep breeders was held
pursuant to notice, at Rutland, last week,
simultaneously with the Vermont State Fair
Scion, Robinson gives report of the discus
sions, OF which the following extract forms
part - EF%EtEE t-F#E# &.
A resolution was now introduced by some
one, and read by the Secretary, that it is the
sense OF this convention that we should strive
stopi odacc wool, and not oil. This was evil
IDENTIFY intended as hit at those who run
upon strain of sheep with very oily fieeces.
This resolution was debated quite earnestly,
! and at first seemed likely to pass, but in the
/ ends would have been almost unanimously
voted down if it had not been withdrawn
So much for the advantage of discussion.
Judge Celburn thought that although Ver-
mont has the best hocks in America, we are
tending too strongly toward producing oily
fleeces, which weakens the constitution of
the sheep. Some of the high priced bucks
sold to 60 West have two pounds of oil to
one pound of wool. ...s.- 49,. ....
Scion Robinson thought it all resolved in
to matter Of dollars and cents. lift Is more
profitable fora farmer to produce oily fleeces
he should not vote for this resolution. 1t is
DotaPolnt ofmorality, but point of inter
est that has to settle, and he did not be-
lieve it was for the interest of Vermont far
mers to adopt the spirit of this resolution.
Mr.. Marsh thought it was not good policy
to change our course of breeding while we
find ready sales for wool, and while the bucks
that are most oily are sought after to cross
upon native western sheep. Farmers must
look to their own interest, and that will reg
eulate the production of oily-wooled sheep,
Daniel kimball, ofClarendon, thought that
voting for this, resolution would tend to hurt
the credit Of Vermont sheep, as a sort of con-
fession that they were generally too oily.
Mr.. Lester Of Rutland, moved to Law the
resolution on the table. as it was useless to
adopt it, since farmers would raise such sheep
as were most profitable.
Judge Colburn thought it would not be so
easy for farmers to sell their wool in peace
times as now, full Of grease and dirt.
Mr.. Gushing said that MANY breeders are
now satisfied that very oily sheep are not as
profitable as others that keep up the same
fneness and length of fibre, with Just enough
oil to protect it. He is satisfied that yery
oily sheep are not hardy, and that, some of
the most profitable Vermont hocks show a
small amount of oil. He has sbeared bucks
of this kind that gave II or 20 pounds wool.
Geo. Campbell Of Westminster, thought
that mich Of the oil was made by feeding
that he could by that means make the same
sheep show more OF less OIL He is sure that
those. that run most, to oil are of weaker
constitution than others. He had travelled
much in this country and Europe in pursuit
Of knowledge about sheep, and is satified
that Vermont has the best stock in the.world
better than Spain He has tried all sorts,
and settled upon the Spanish merino as the
most profitable breed; and he is also salts
fed that it is not profitable to wash sheep,
because by not doing it he can shear early,
soy about May |, and protect the sheep
few days, and they are not injured and he
thus saves WOOL When he used to wash
and turn them out to pasture, much wool
was lost upon briers and brushes. ~
- He is sure, that, one year with another,
! his clip sells for more money unwashed than
it would washed, and he saves the labor and
health of his sheep. The wool clipped early
looks better, and often is better, than washed
wool. Some buyers think that heavy fleeces
must be dirty and to avoid this objection
he has divided and tied up two to a sheep,
and then they sold without any objection. 1t
is now ten years since he has practiced wash
ing sheep.
Mr.. Robinson's remark that the question
Of oily feeces is one for farmers to decide &C
cording to their own interests probably
correct enough that is, if when they buy
sheep to breed from, on the strength of the
heavy feeces," they have given, they are
made aware before hand how much was ,cool,
and how much was grease. They would
then buy the" oily sheep from preference;
but when they do not perhaps know that, as
Judge Colburn says above, :" some Of the
high priced bucks sold to go west lave two
pounds Of oil to one pound of WOOL they
may buy them, not so much owing to pre-
ference for oil, as to the mistaken snpposition
that the oil has more eool miaed with it.