The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-15
HOW TO GROW FINE WOOL.

To THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES: In nv
letter to you of the 2sth ultimo 1 made
mention OF putting cattle in the pasture
with the sheep. by so doing the farmer
derives other benefits quite as import
ant as those have mentioned, and
would like to say few words further in
this letter. In grazing tho cattle crop
off the tops OF the blades. The sheep
bites closer, follow the cattle and gather
nourishment where cattle would not be
able to get single spear.
The sheep holds the herbage firmly
between the front teeth Of the lower
jaw and the pad" in the upper, and it is
partly bitten and partly torn apart.
Who has not noticed tho rolling motion
OF the head OF the sheep when feeding,
which is certainly proof of tho manner
in which he grazes The sheep there
fore, by biting closer, not only loosens
the roots of the grass, but causes them
to spread, also by cutting closer causes
the plant to make fresh. moro numer-
GUS and stronger suckers and sprouts,
which, together with their droppings,
increases the value of the crop, and,
further than this, nothing will more
effectually make a thick and lasting
pasture than its being occasionally
closely eaten down by sheep.
1t is desirable when the farmer can
conveniently do so, 10 divide his pas
lures into small divisions, and when
one division is thoroughly grazed over,
change his flock or flocks to another.
This will give the one just abandoned
time to recuperate: and pasture of
smaller range will keep and fatten more
sheep than one of greater extent. This
plan will also save much driving of the
sheep backwards and forwards, as
changing Of the pasture and driving
makes them uneasy and discontented
TO do well and benefit their condition
they want to feed quietly; then they
will cat less (and still improve), also
waste less.
Pasture has a far greater influence on
the fineness OF the fleece than tempera-
ture; and as quality makes the value of
wool, the farmers should attend to their
flocks in such a manner that they get a
uper-abundance OF nutriment, as tho
staple of the wool will increase in
length or in bulk when the animal is
properly fed and managed. When
sufficient nourishment is not afforded
the animal the secretion, which forms
the wool, must decrease, and the resHlt
is lighter fleece and thinner animal.
Now that summer is upon us, |
Temperature" Temperature has
II UGH to do with the fineness
of wool. Examine n fleece of wool and
you will find that the cxtremities of
the wool and those near the root are
larger than the intermediate parts, par
ticularly when wool is grown that the
extremes of heat and cold are greatest.
The end of the ibrc is generally the
largest of all. 1t is grown during the
summer soon after shearing when the
pores of the skin are more open AND
allow larger fibre to protrude. The
part near the root is grown in the spring
as the weather increases in warmth,
while the intermediate part is the
growth during the winter; under the in
fluence of cold the pores are contracted
and only finer fibre escapes.
Tho natural instinct of the sheep
should show the farmer the advantage
of attending to the influence of tom
perature on him. They show IN every
movement they are impa tient of heat.
In your open fields where there is no
shelter see them climb to the highest
parts where, if they must have the full
rays Of the sun fall on them, they go for
cooling breeze, but, if there is any
shelter at all, then you will see the
place crowded with tho sheep. You,
farmers, then provide some kind of
shelter for your sheep. Their very &C
tons should say to you that they re-
quire it. You cannot give too much at
tention to these seemingly small mat
tiers, but remember, with good pasture,
as even temperature as can be obtained
by shelter, you will obtain a finer fleece
and more even ibre and in the end an
advanced price for your improved wool
The Virginia valleys can be made
the home of much larger flocks and pro-
duce fine wool, and it remains with the
farmers to so look after their sheep that
they will secure this result. desire
again to impress upon the sheep raisers
throughout Virginia the Importance
and value to them of obtaining a high
standard of excellence in the wools they
raise. They should procure the very
best bred ''Merinos" for their flocks,
pay moro attention to the care of their
sheep during the winter months, keep
them well fed, doing so: with judgment
as to the necessities required by the
animal, and always keep them in as
equal temperature as possible, and
the result will be more than gratifying.
Respectfully,
f. II. SARGEANT .JR,
President The Virginia Blanket Mills
Company.
Newark, N. j., May 18th, 1891.
A Strawberry Festival.