The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-05-25
Washing Sheep.

There has been a difference of opinion
as to the ACCESSIBILITY of washing sheep
before shearing. The objections on the
part of the wool grower are that wash
ing in the water of the cold streams in
this State is detrimental to the sheep,
both in the act of washing and also be-
cause they must carry their f1eeces too
late in the season. Sheep generally
lose flesh during the last month they
carry their fieeces when kept to the
usual time, and even no longer than is
absolutely necessary to secure sufficient
warmth in the water to make the opera
ton of washing safe. A second OBJ
lection is that it is a very unpleasant
job for the washers and endangers their
health. This objection can be Obviated
where large tanks can be constructed,
SO that the washer can stand outside
and not enter the water This is
difficult to secure, and at the same time
have water enough to make the washing
effective. To the wool-qrOwer, as far
as the sheep, its health and thrift is con-
cerned, there is not single thing to be
said in favor of washing, while there is
much to be said in favor of not washing.
1t is far better for the sheep to be
sheared as early as the middle of May.
1t is then too warm to carry such coat.
and they generally lose flesh after this
time till sheared. After being turned
out to grass the wool becomes more or
less filthy, ewes sucking lambs lose their
wool, and sheep sheared at this time if
kept under shelter nights and during
cold storms will do much better. The
wool also starts better than when
sheared after the weather is hot. The
practical experience of every good
shepherd is that early shearing is best
as far as the sheep is concerned.
The next question is regarding the
fleece. The wool grower is anxious, of
course, to put it in condition to get the
most money out of it, and buyers have
generally demanded that it be washed.
One difficulty is that wool is not bought
and sold on its merits. In each class
of wool the different lots bring about
the same price, no matter what the
condition unless decidedly bad; there is
a certain price for washed feeces and a
certain deduction for unwashed, vet
the unwashed may have less foreign
matter in it.
1t is, of course, impossible to test the
matter with the same fleece, but there
is hardly a doubt that a Merino fleece
washed in the usual way and the sheep
allowed to run for several days after
washing before being sheared, will have
nearly or quite as heavy fleece as if it
were sheared before any warm weather,
and there is little doubt that the fiber
would be better and stronger. There is
little doubt that under the present meth
DDS the fleece will bring more if washed
on the sheep, but that it ought to is not
so plain. Having reference only to it's
value, the fleece certainly can be worth
no more to the manufacturers after go
ing through the spring storms on the
sheep and allowed to fill with oil on the
sheep after washing. If there is more
extraneOus matter in it before washing,
it, of course, is not worth so much per
pound, and the cost of freight on the
difference in weight must also be de-
Quoted, but that this difference is as
great as that made by buyers is denied
by wool growers and they viii not be-
lieve it until they see the price of wool
graded according to its condition and its
value.
There is a growing objection to wash
ing sheep. Breeders of choice sheep
viii not do it, and if none that grow
wool would, and at the same time take
pains to keep their sheep clean and
shear early, they would probably re-
ceive for their wool as much as they
now do. If not the gain to the sheep
would compensate for some deficiency
in fleece by allowing early shearing.
More sheep are sheared unwashed every
year and the number viii probably i'm
crease until washing the wool ON the
sheep win be unknown.-DetroH Past
e.1d TTibu1se.