Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-05-21
Preparing Wool for Market.

The season is at hand when preparations
must be made for marketing the fleece in the
best possible shape, in order to secure for il
the best possible price. Sheep come through
the winter sometimes in a very dirty condi-
ton. unless good care is given them, and the
wool is filed with dust, sand, particles of
manure, and the natural secretions, all of
which must be removed before wool is in
proper condition to shear of and send to the
mandatory.
Tagging is usually done before the sheep
are washed. All the manure stained wool or
tags should he carefully trimmed off and
thrown aside until they can be washed by
themselves. This work should not be put
off too long. Sometimes in the hurry of field
work. farmers postpone tagging" until
washing time, and then it is quite impossible,
in the short time the sheep are in the water,
to thoroughly cleanse out all the filth that
cumulates around the hinder parts. At this
time, also, careful attention should be given
to the pairing of the toes, which may have
grown to a considerable length during the
winter, and the dirt that accumulates in the
hoof often engenders foot-rot Cut out every
vestige of rot, and apply tar with a swab or
stick this is the mOst effectual method
Of treating the disease.
After the sheep have been through the pro-
cess of tagging and hoof-ceaning, and when
the weather has become sufficiently warm,
washing is in order. We do not think there
is any necessity for cautioning readers against
| such dishonest practices as washing sheep in
shallow. sandy pools, for the purpose of in
creasing the weight of the wool by the sand
that gets into the fleece, though it has been
done but wool-buyers cannot often be gulled
by such means. Honesty in washing. in fold
ing and in weighing is always best. Washing
ia rpmmnply rfnrmad N hrpOks pr
creeks, and a warm, pleasant day should be
chosen for the work.
Having erected pen on the bank, with
narrow passageway running to the water,
| pen up the flock, and if the number of sheep
| is not very large, one man to catch the sheep,
one to stand in the brook and wash them,
| and one to assist them into another pen, will
| be sufficient. Care should be exercised in
| catching the sheep, not to frighten them
duly or tear out their wool. Grab them by
| the hind leg just above the hook, and then
about the neck, and they will not struggle
| much and can be easily held When once in
the water, washing should be performed as
quickly as possible, to avoid chilling the
sheep. The wool should be thoroughly
squeezed between the fingers, and any espe-
cialy dirty places well washed out. 1t is
| well to squeeze out as much water as posi-
| BILE from the wool, when the sheep have come
out, to hasten drying. Unless the weather is
warm the washed flock should be well shell
| tered for a night or two, to avoid taking
cold
Some farmers prefer to build a dam, with
/ spout or trough extending from it under
which the sheep may be held and washed.
The washer can put on rubber thigh boots,
and so avoid getting wet when this method is
practised; but it is not generally so effective.
| Sheep-washipg now has not the poetry and
| sentimentality of the past. and the question
''Will it pay!" is very often raised. If hon.
estly washed feeces bring better price in
market than unwsshed, the old custom will
not go out Of practice; but if it shall appear
that unw ashed feeces are equally as salable
as washed, men will not be apt to stand waist
deep in chilly water simply for the sake Of
| custom.