Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-08-09
FACTS ABOUT WOOL.

1t is known to all shepherds and
dealers in wool, aud especially to
manufacturers of WOODEN goods,
that a large percentage of the
weight Of wool as shown from the
sheep Is foreign matter, from which
the wool has to be cleanSed before
it is manufactured. In buying
wool this element of waste is q very
important one to be considered.
It differs widely in different breeds,
and is also affected more or less by
the condition IN which the sheep
have been kept in clean pastures
or otherwise while the wool was
growing. 1t is no easy matter to
determine by estimation the sever
al proportions of wool and waste.
AS stated by dealers and manu-.
facturers, limewashed merinO wool
shlrks from 80 to so per cent. in
securing. The lightest and cAoic.
est Australian medium unwashed
will yield 30 per cent. less of scOur-
ed wool, and the very heaviest buck
fleeces will yield about 20 per cent.
of pure secured wool. Most of the
unwashed woods yield about 80 per
cent. of secured wool. Some Of the
light, open, coarse unwashed woods
of the carpet class will yield as
high as 20 per cent. of secured
wool. Fine Ohio full blood merlno
unwashed wool buck feecest
thrown out yield from 80 to 40 per
cent. Of secured wool. The merino
teeces grown IN Texas and on the
western prairies yield from 20 to 80
per cent. of secured wool. Unmer-
charitable Ohio heeces yield from
35 to 40 per cent. when secured.
Cross bred Ohio feeces washed on
the sheep yield from go to 10 per
cent. Of scoOred wool and cross
bred western prairie fleeces from
80 to 90 per cent. Tub washed
woods generally yield from so to go
per cent. of sconred wool. Secured
woods, in the condition in which
they are usually prepared for sale,
yield from So to 90 per cent, o.
secured wool on rev ASKING.
Wool is marketed as unwasheC
fleece wash ed, tub washed an(
sc CURED. Unwashed wool is th'
fleece in the condition in which !
was shorn from the sheep. Fleece
washed is wool that has been wash
ed on the sheep, usually in streams
Of running water, before they are
shorn. Such washing, if thorough
" done, will remove the alkaline
portion of the yolk and most Of
the earthly matter, but leaves the
the amin al OIL in the fleece. AS
sometimes practiced, 1t leaves the
wool but little if any better than
good unwashed. Tub washed is
wool washed by hand in tabs, as ii
Is usally done IN a small way by
farmers. If the washing is done
IN cold water it is often no better
than fleece washed. When washed
with warm water and soap it may
be made almost equal to secured
wool. Secured wool is wool wash
ed in warm alkaline bath and
afterward rlnsed thoroughly in
clear water until it is absolutely
clear and ready for manufactur.
ing,
From the above 1t will readily be
seen that no rule OF "one-tbird off
for uDwashed," or, indeed, any
other percentage can have any
general application in the buying
and selling of the clips with out in
most cases being unfair to the buy
er or seller. The consequence is,
says the New York World, from
which the above is quoted, that
wool is now very generally being
bought on its merits, the brlce
varying according to its cleanness
and condition. Washing wool on
the sheep has also become far less
common than formerly.