Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1884-04-09
Washing Wool on the Sheep.

Washing WOOL on The sheep is a gem
eral practice. 1t is proposed 10 reform
the plactice, 1t beng charged rs wholly
useless. and IN a large degree Injurious
20 the sheep and the washers. The"
sands OF years ago, when eaci -,
grew and wove its own clot:. :. there
were reasons fox washing. Pit no
sound reasons Gu he shown now. A
supDosiiious reason is the idea OF
making ali clips alike in condition and
value. because no farmer will sell his
wool un,css Lc can get the same price
rs his neighbcr. Bat every observing
wool-orowcr knows there is not uni
formity in lAr conc! ton and value of
ilcccc-washe woJ.s. Some run eight
or ten days between washing and s icar-
ing, ana others run live CT six wecEs.
Some wash cut AS little dirt as they
can, and some make it q point to let
their slecp run until there is as much
dirt and oil ia the wool as besor, wash
ing. So there is rs much difference in
the 7condision-of washed fleece ass poo,
cent. of shrinkage as in unwashed.
The result is that where the buyer goes
from farm to farm anl pays each grow
er the same price tho sam. day, the
man who has u fine Ii rht clip gets less
than its value TO make up the loss on q
dirty clip. so that the buyer can make
an average price, and buy of every
grower he calls on, and rec i've his
commission OF one cent per pound.
Mos. fiocks have to be driven some
distance to the washing place. and be-
come tired and heated, and the close
yarding increases both. and ruts them
in bad condition for bath. TIC wash
inc and SLOW process of evaporation of
the large anouat of water IN the wool
produces q cAitl. reduces the vitality OF
the sheep and make it more vulnerable
to attacks OF disease. The yelk and oil
washed out of the wool is q product of
food, and it requires rs much OF the ell
cments OF nutrition 10 produce n
pound OF it rs ii does to produce
pound of wool. The animal economy
is taxed to produce new supply be-
fore shearing at the expense OF more
food. Washing sheep often gives them
colds, from which they never recover.
The operation is one of scomfort to
the men, and sometimes results in ser
ious injury 10 health. As they cannot
be washed until weather and water be-
come mcasurab.y warm, and must
needs run ailerward until the 'oil
starts" the season of shear.nr is linn
tied, and many locks are obliged to
carry their tleeces into hot weat her, re-
sulting in loss of condition and stop
ping growth OF wool.
We ought 20 abolish the practice, be-
cause il will be Il yearly saving of lima.
labor and expense; the sueep can be
sheared early 1T convenence, and the
! season of shear.ng ana marketing
I lengthnnetl. The market for unwashed
wool is just as good as for washed, and
it will sell for just as much rer head for
the same numcer of months growth.
sieared, last year. May 80 and 81.
and the next day | noticed my sheep
sought the shade to lie down. Thou
sands Of sheep carried their tleeccs dur
| ing month Of ho. weather, and then
] the tender skin Was exposed 10 the
sec rching rays OF the sun. All this dis
comfort and loss in growth Of wool
could have been avoided by shearing
| unwashed. Those VINO can give their
sheep shelter at night and during
storms can shear May ! with benefit
! Those whose pastures are distant can
shear as soon as liability to cold storms
is past, say from MAY Is to 81. and
sheep should scld m carry their Il eeces
far into June. b r. Roberts in Chtca.
! 90 journal.