Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-04-26
LIV { ST
PREPARING WOOL FOR HAEKET.

The following practical suggestions by
the Colorado Farmer to the w~ool-gro~erS
of that State, will apply with equal force to
our condition in Montana
we would call The attention Of our wool
rover TO the importance Of properly pre-
pairing their coming clip for the market.
We do not only have reference to grading
and sacking as to the different qualities OF
wool in the clip, and to neatly tying up ana
general workman-likc manner OF handling !;
but to several other important .consldera-
tons.
1t is thought BY some Of our most eype-
rienced sheep men that some steps should
be taken to gather our woods topetllef at
such central points rs Denver, and equally
eligible places, and store them safely SO as to
hold them for ready inspection by eastern
manufacturers ana wool spectators. ALI
other advantage of such central warenous-
ing, would be the opportunity afforded TO
those who wished to borrow money on
woods thus stored, other advantages could
be mentioned but We shall pass them for the
present.
Again. w " h'ffOC
inc wool-growers, who are earnestly dis
cussing the feasibility and advantages OF
washing and grading our woods before mar
keting them.
In our mind there is not a doubt but that
we can realize at least five cents per pound
more for our wool by pursuing this course.
Our woods are very dry and free from Oil,
even the yolky merino III this drying eli
mate and alkali dust, loses much ofthe
greasy character he had in his old home,
and the principal dirt in our fleeces Is the
light discoloring dust OF the plains that
gives our woods q harsh feeling, and against
which the buyer protests so loudly and dis
crislinates so unjustly.
Ii some individual will erect an establish
ment for the purpose of grading and scour-
inc wool. and charge for doing the work on
~ what it is worth, we think they would bo
literally patronized.
The buildings required are not expensive,
the cost of material for securing is very
cheap. the labor is not of that high charac-
ter but that competent hands could easily
be obtained to do the work. 1t would not
be necessary to grade tile tleeces into more
than three grades.
BY doing this our w~ool-growers would
have the advantage of the slight sllrinkage
III cleaning Of our naturally light wool,
would not have to pay freight on dirt east,
and would take away the great argument OF
wool buyers of hardness, nncleanliness, etc,
and waIld be able to offer an article to the
manufactured on its merits. The buyer
would find some fault even then, for one of
their perquisites would be taken from them.
for what they lose on heavy, dirty woods,
they expect to make up for Oh the light dry
woods of the plains, but their sense Of fair
ness and competition would compel them to
be nearly just.
We would like to see some positive move
in this matter, and would suggest the pro-
priety of the Secretary of the Wool-GroW-
ers' Association. calling together the mem
beers OF the association, or so many OF them
that would take an interest in trying to ad-
vance their own interests, to discuss the
subject and to take some steps to ascertain
il the thing was practicable and profitable.
We feel satisfied that il this matter could be
thoroughly understood by our wool-grow-
ers money could easily be obtained to put in
force the project.
Shall we hear of some one moving in the
matter SOON?
HOW TO TELL A HORSES AGE.
The colt ii born with twelve grinders