Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-05-28
POINTS ON WOOL.


out by Jagode s. Lewis, wool commits
sion merchants, of Philadelphia, and it
will be found to contain many points of
interest and advantage to the wool
grower:
So much complaint has been made in
recent years regarding the condition of
domestic woods, that a word to wool
growers at this time will not, we hope,
be amiss. The manufacture of worsted
and wooden goods has been revolution
lied to such an extent, as to reduce it
almost to science. Competition COM
pels the most careful calculation of the
cost of production of goods, and by ac-
tual tests, manufacturers have found
that Australian woods are cheaper at the
same cost per secured pound, than Ohio
fine woods of the longest staple, for the
reason that they buy nothing which
they cannot use.
In No. Australian combing wool for
instance, the worsted spinner is able to
turn it from the bales into the securing
tub without sorting, except, possibly,
precautionary inspection. This is
owing to the fact only the body of the
fleece is put into the first grade, there
being no skirts or seedy and chaffy neck
pieces, no strings, no tabs, fribs or for
eign substance whatever. These Aus
tralian woods, will yield 95 to SO per
cent. of the required sort, while the
choicest Ohio fine delaine will not yield
ovei Is per cent. 1t is this comparison
by manufacturers that causes them to
complain so much about the manner in
which domestic woods are put up, and
incline them to the use of foreign woods
more and more each year.
The production of foreign woods is in
ereasing rapidly, proving a constant
menace to the growers of this country.
According to estimates made by the
"London Board of Trade" the worlds
supply of wool in 1860 was 995,000,000
pounds, and in 1889 was 1,950,000,000
pounds This increase has been con-
fined almost exclusively to fine woods,
the increase in three countries alone
which grow fine woods principally
ing Isl 100000 pounds, viz: Australia,
390,000,000; River Plate, 317,000,000,
and Cape of Good Hope, 44,000,OOO, and,
we may add, that the increase in the clip
of Australia for 1890 over 1889 is about
10000 bales or 20,000,000 pounds, and
of the River Plate, about 10000 bales or
100000 pounds. the increase of either
country being about equal to the amount
of wool grown in the State of Ohio.
From the foregoing facts, it is eyi-
dent that the American wool grower to
regain his prestige, must, firstly, put up
his wool carefully and conseientiously,
and more in keeping with the methods
prevailing in other parts of the world
with which he competes. Secondly-to
attain success, he must exercise great
care in the breeding of sheep that he
may secure the greatest possible guam
tity per head, both of mutton and
secured pounds of desirable wool. In
adopting methods to improve the eOndi
ton of woods, it is advisable to shear in
the grease if there are not excellent IA
cilities for washing, which should al
ways be done by hand, and never sim
ply by swimming. After thoroughly
washing, measures should be taken to
shear within ten days, in order to insure
woods in proper condition. In the tying
of fleeces, which should always be done
by hand, only sufficient twine should be
used to keep the wool together, say, two
strings one way and one the other; and
the smaller the twine used, and the less
the quantity, the more slightly and desir
able will be the wool. Seedy and chat
fly woods being particularly objectiona-
BILE, for the reason that they cannot be
used in the manufacture of the finer
grades of goods, care should be taken in
the feeding of sheep, so that the wool
may not be thus injured. All washed
and unwashed tags, frihs, CLOCKS,
and dead wool should be kept separate.
If growers will carefully observe the
above suggestions, it will be only a
question of short time when they will
receive greater recompense for their Ia
bors, and succeed in agaiu bringing
American woods into popularity.