The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-05-11
FOR THE FARMER.
The Proper Preparation of Wool for
Market.

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The Proper Preparation of Wool for
Market.
The Importance of proper preparation
of any article exposed for sale by either
manufacturers or producers is pretty gen
orally recognized and appreciated, and
especially is this true of staple articles.
Very often. however. we find that the
producer of farm products fails to realize
the Importance of this vital point in
marketing his products when highest
prices are desired. The aim should always
be to have every article present the neat
cS. and most attra.ti tive appearance posi-
bic tOnsiS cnt with honesty and due
consideration Of the desires of the pur-
chaser as to the manner in which the
package should be prepared. In no in
stance perhaps is there greater lack
among producers Of farm products than
in the prepare ion of wool for mare
by Wisconsin wool growers.
Many parts of the state of Visions II
are eminently adapted for the keeping Of
sheep and the production of Il high quail
ty of mutton and wool at rcnunerative
prices. There will probably never again
l't.., time when these two farm products
will be divorced. In other words, the
aim of al sheep owners i'll Wisconsin
should be the keeping of sheep of a good
mutton form that will clip a heavy fleece
Of good wool, as there is no antagonism
i'll the production of these two products
b. the same animal. The writer has fire.
Q1cntly teen puzzled to know why so
large Il percentage of Wisconsin woods
graded so low in the large wool markets,
and with the object of getting some re-
liable information along this line letters
were addressed to il number of the larg-
est dealers in Wisconsin woods. In reply
to the qucs ion What are the chief de-
fccs III WISCONSIN woods received by
your firm" the answers in all cases
agreed III stating too much chaff, dirty
tags, seeds and burrS in the WOOL
In reply to the question as to what
PEI ntage of the Wisconsin woods were
injured by chaff, dirt, tags. etc, and the
average discount on such tieeceS, the re-
plies in all cases Indicated that at least
10 per cent. of WisconSins wool clip
graded low on this account and was dis
counted from to 5 cents per pound.
From the latest statistics relating to
that III 1898 there We're Approximately
1O4,O2 sheep and lambs in the state with
an average wool clip Of pounds per
head. making Il total for the state that
year Of 1923. no pounds Of wool, 10 per
cent. Of which being d;scouptcd at an
average of cents per pound, amounts
to $40. 712.o6 which, if the wool were
properly cared for: might find it's way in
to the pockets of the wool growers of the
state instead of being direct loss to all
parties concerned.
Other questions referred to the manner
of folding and tying the feeceS. the kind
or kinds of Irvine used, the kinds favored
and those that were seriously objection
abe. From the replies to these inquiries
it was learned that IA large number of
Wisconsin wool growers still use coarse
binding and sisal twine which are Sc
r;ously objectionable for tying the feeceS.
The small particles in these twines be-
come broken off and mixed with the
wool. and as it is Il hard and woody sub
stance which will not take dye its pres
cnce constitutes a serious defect, neces.
S;lrily dcpreciating the value of the wool
very preceptihly since these particles
figures received from one of the large
spinning concerns in Philadelphia it was
found that in $4,000 pounds of I'M
washed quarter-blood wool such as is
grown in Wisconsin, 1872 pounds Of
strings had been used, while in 10000
pounds of Australian wool only one
pound of strings was found. as Il great
many of the Australian tceces are cot
tied at all. This is given simply to show
what an important item strings are when
considered in connection with large guam
titles of wool. One Of the letters re-
ccived from one of the be$tknown deal
crS in Wisconsin woods in submitting the
replies to questions writes:
I'VE are pleased to hear that YOU are
making some effort to improve NiScOn-
sin woods, which ut the present time
have the worst name for not being prop
erly put up of any woods in the United
States: some manufacturers not buying
them at all on this account"
In view OF the strong statement just
given. which we have every reason to be-
lieve to be correct. it will not be out of
place if a proper method of folding and
tying a fleece is given here.
Care should be observed during the
shearing process to preserve the fleece
without parting or breaking it in any
way. When all parts Of it have been re-
moved from the sheep the fleece should
he spread on Il level floor or table with
the dark CT outer side uppermoSt. all dir
ty tags or luckS of wool clotted with ma
nlre should be removed from every fleece
and kept separate so they may be washed
and sold by themselves. When the dirty
tags have all been removed, gather the
fleece as nearly as possible into the shape
and density it had when en- the animal :
back. The brcech wool should be fold
cd in first. next the flank. then the neck
piece is attached This will leave the
fleece almost square, when by laying the
left arm down the middle of the square
the operator can fold one-half upon the
other after which it is Il simple matter
to roll the fleece into neat and tidy
cylindrical roll.
Two pieces of Irvine are then tied snug
from each end. The object, whatever
the methcl CT tying the fleece, should
not he to- compress it into il very small
and compact bundle. as this interferes
with the examination of a fleece. and is
quite objectionable, but it should be tied
sufficiently firm so that it will remain
in neat. tidy form and yet will be of
fore stated. the use OF coarse siSal binder
Irvine should by all means be discontin'
ucd. \ small linen or a soft hemp Irvine
are the only kinds that should be used;
what is known as wool Irvine. or No. IL
hemp. is recommended. as it fulills all
requirements. and only costs from 8 to
10 cents per pound, and single pound
will answer for from 100 to 100 tieeces
depending to some extent on the size OF
he fleece and the method of tying. Very
short and heavy fleeces, such as merinos
will require much mere Irvine and to be
more carefully tied than will the lighter
and longer wColS.
1t is to be hoped that our Wisconsin
wocl growers will give more attention tc
some Of these minor yet all-important
points in connection with the production
of wool in our state. W. l.. CARLYLE,
Professor of Animal Hubandry, Wiscon
sin State university
Planting and Keeping Potatoes.
In planting potatoes do not pay an!
nttCnticn to the moon. there are some
people foolish enough to let favorable
conditions for planting 20 by while wait
ing for the moon to get right. DO no
do this; pay attention to the time Of
year. condition of the soil and the wealth
err. AS soon as the soil works well, i
the danger from hard freezing is past
pIow the ground deep and do not thinl