Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-04-01

have no water or place lit, or at least
never saw one.
j b. MoRsE--I don't feel posted, but
seems t. me there are two questions, wash
or not wash but if to economize is to
sell in the dirt, better for sheep, de-,
while on the other hand We can suit the
liberality of the manufacturer in giving
larger prices by washing, saying nothing
about the sheep, then this is for us to set
tie. As 10 their manner of buying We
don't get pay for washing well, as they
pay the same price; hence Vermont wool
is low in reputation. | don't believe it
is natural for sheep t be put into the
water, they hate the sight of it, Injuries
them, and if sheared late come up not
looking as well in fall, don't winter as
we'll. / would like to know ii there
could not be some system Whereby our
wool could be sold better, then in wash
ing and shearing, which must be done
when out to pasture causes more expense ;
often away, busy time of year, help
scarce, &c. | think it not economy.
And now | cannot see why it is not bet
ter for all to not wash; less expense,
more healthy, better sheep, better wool
JOHN MCNEILL.-Iused to keep sheep,
knew of no other way than to wash and
clean. Don't know as ever lost any
sheep by washing. done up my wool
well, so much so it enhanced the price
G. w. NEWCOMER have kept sheep
this 90 years: always washed but one
year, then | sheared in March did not
get so much wool as when | washed, (but
it was but ten months growth never
was injured in my flock of sheep so
much as that year. Never lost any
sheep by shearing late.
NATHAN FISHER | have never done
"great things in raising wool though
constantly doing something. My prac-
tice was for many years to wash
and wash well, and the manufacturer
would say " it is put up we'll" ! would
ask them if such and such mans wool
was cleansed like mine what it would
shrink, they say, 10 per cent, but they
say it will not do to pay you any mere
than them | said it was wrong. So |
soon thought it would not do to be par
ticular in washing, and done it much af-
ter the manner of others. Three to
catch and throw into the water to one 10
wash" But late years have sheared my
wool in the dirt, and one reason | past
ured tn m some Is miles away. Shear
some three weeks before turning away
from barn in spring. Their wool in that
time starts and their bodies become feted
over, shedding the rain, standing the
storms almost as well as these with wool
upon them. One of my neighbors shear
ed part of his flock in April and part in
June and the former stood spring rains
best, and come to The barn in the fall in
much the best condition. Sometimes
loose few in spring but seldom. ! un-
derstand the manufacturers like the I'M
washed wool quite as well. 1t is true
that sheep after they are sheared in
spring will consume considerable more
hay. But | think it much the best way
to shear i'll April in the dirt. The buy
ers do not make the discount which they
used too, which was one-third, now in
this section SO cents to 40. Now think
we get more wool in the dirt, for some
will be lost in the pasture Wool vii
appear better when protected from storms
and | think if all were in the habit o
shearing in the dirt we should realiz,
more money.
ID. G. WRIGHT.-By washing our WOO
in the manner which it is usually done
We can get more dollars and cents. Blu
that is not all there is to it, the sheep d,
much better sheared early. AS to sellin,
the wool, two manufacturers told M,
that they had rather have the unwashec
at discount. / knew OF an instance
where two flocks of sheep were out il
the spring storm, one SHARED about tire
weeks before and the other not, and tn,
former stood the storm best, the unshear
ed remained wet so long they could no
recover readily, and the early shearet
came to the barn in the fall in far thu
best condition. | think it better to shea
in April unwashed
n. G.. PIERCE.-From the differen
opinions here expressed, it is evident i
is owing to the different breeds of sheep
The oily sheep will not stand the wash
ing without injury. But such sheep n
Mr., Newcomb's were free from oil, moi
much shrink in their wool. of good con
stitution and there was no harm; bu
men who have oily sheep will no
wash them. But one thing we should d
and that is to bring Vermont wool up t,
its former reputation.