The Red Cloud chief., 1882-07-06
The Shearing floer.

The steady annual increase in weight
Of fleece that is noticeable each sheariug
time. bears fitting testimony 10 the in
breeders. who already have n record
that viii lose nothing in comparison
with that OF their most fortunate prede-
cessors. A careful study 81 the shear
ing returns of the present Year. and
their comparison with those made = few
years ago. will reveal the interesting
fact hat the increase in the aggregate
production OF wool in the United States
Is due, in q greater decree. To ar aug
mcntcd Weld from each animal. than "a
the increase in numbers o; sheep The
average Weld of wool from zach sheep.
in 1851. was more than 80 per cent.
above that Of 1850. or about 81 pounds
per head in the former. a. against 81
pounds per head in the latter yea
These figures possess great significance.
They demonstrate not only that more
than Il pounds Of wool is now growing
where. with the same food and labor.
but n grew before. but that II - of
superior quality the strength and
uniformity of fiber i largely dependent
upon the vigor and stcsdineSs of It's
growth. But the measure OF improve
meni is not fully Indicated by the shear
ing record. The high phy sicsl develop
ment necessary for securing n good
fleece record. ENSURES an increased meat
production. which finds ready welcome
in the best markets on either side Of the
Atlantic.
The relation that the shearing f,oor
sus,ains 10 the breeding pen il such
that the aspiring breeder n rarely at
ford la study the one disaSsociated with
the other. Speculation rs 10 the shear
ing qualities of the shepherds favoriics
must tarry at the threshold OF the barn.
while they are subjected to the mex
orsble test Of the shears and scales. A.
the glamour Of distinguished ancestry,
however much it NAV avail. must here
pale or glow under friction Of the cru
cial test. the flock manager should spend
most of the day on the sheaTing floor.
noting such animals n show n variation
from the average of the flock standard,
so that the better can be retained. while
the inferior ones are releEAted 10 the
shanbles. or some less exac:ing owner
snip. "ti-ub u bttSr sAtA8b hth ~
the only desidcraium-though when
estimated with reference To the percent
age of secured wool It will yield. weight
is a prime consideration in
flock designed for wool growing.
Uniformity of fiber. as regards
both length and diameter throughout
the entire fleece. enhances its markeia-
BILE value. This value may be still fur
Their enhanced by securing uniformity
in al the ~fccces. so thst the examina-
ton of = few will enable the buyer To
form q conclusion "a 10 the entire lot
Thus. by \ few years of intelligent over
sight. the flock owner a sccure n repu-
tation for his wool tina, viii insure him
ready sales at the highest ruling prices.
while his less careful neighbors are hold
ing and complaining of unsatisfactory
offerings from reluctant buyers Com
petition in the wool manufacture has
forced BUYERS of raw material into a
more intelligent discrimination than
characterized their transactions . few
years sgo: and while there Is not We; 80
broad \ line between really meriforio1s
clips and those thrown upon the market
in . sloveniy or deceptive condition
there is . yearly Frightening prospect
for those who strive 20 secure something
more than reputation for good work
through 3 careful oversight OF the shear
inc foor.-ydsLenai Lsr< Stock y0aru1i.