Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-04-11

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Wool is not the chief source of in
come from Maryland sheep, but, con-
stituting from perhaps twenty TO forty
per cent OF the value OF the marketable
product yielded by the flock, II deserves
careful consideration. Its value may
be materially lowered or enhanced by
methods OF production, shearing and
handling, and Maryland sheepmen
should give careful attention TO all OF
these.
Such breeding stock should be used
as will be likely to produce uniform,
white wool OF good quality. Wool 10
which black libers are present must be
sold as gray or black wool at sub
stantial reduction due to the fact that
only dark colored materials may be
made from such wool. The presence
OF coarse, hairy tibers also lowers the
value OF wool. Accordingly, rams
with wool that varies greatly in fine
ness or with black Ebers in their leeces
should not be used for breeding pur-
poses
The flock should be managed so that
there will be no considerable amount
OF foreign matter in the fleece at shear
ing time Chaffy, bury, or dirty wool
Is expensive to ship on account of the
added weight due to the presence OF the
foreign matter, and is costly TO pre-
pare Tor manufacture, as the removal
oithese foreign substances necessitates
putting the wool through an expensive
purifying process. Attention TO pas
lures, keeping the sheep out Of the
fields in which burdocks and cookie
burs are found, and proper construc-
tion OF feed racks will do much to pre-
vent damage due to the presence of
burs or chaff.
Shearing should be done when the
wool IS dry, for wool dries very slowly
after being removed from the sleeps
back, and the presence of moisture is
likely to cause serious damage to the
wool. Care should be taken TO have
clean shearing floor. A large fiat door
or tarpaulin may be used II il is not
convenient to clean suitable place on
wooden or concrete floor.
Special attention should be given to
the position in which the shears or
clippers are held at the time of shear
ing so as to avoid damage which re-
suits from making second cuts. The
short, uneven length of tibers caused
by these second cuts will materially
reduce the value of wool. Clippers or
shears should be held so that the wool
may be clipped close with no necessity
for going over the surface second |
time.
Care should be exercised to avoid |
tearing the fleece while the sheep is be-
ing shorn After each is shorn its
fleece should be rolled compaetly, with |
sheared side out, and securely tied by |
putting one string around the fleece |
each way. 1t is important to tie so |
that the fleece will not come united |
when II is being handled in preparation
for shipment. or at time of grading.
Many Maryland feeces have been left
without tying and stuffed into small
gunny sacks along with as many other
loose tieeceS as the sack will hold. |
This constitutes very unattractive
wool package, and aeeces put up in
this way are inconvenient to handle at
time of grading. Some prefer to use
the wool box.
Dirty locks or tags OF wool should
be put in a bag separate from the good
wool. 1t is damaging to the seller for
the buyer to open a fleece of good well
grown wool and find a pound of very
dirty loose wool in the center of the
fleece. This damaged wool does not
belong with the good fleece and should
not be allowed to lower its value.
Ii there are any gray or black fleeces
they should be kept separate from the
white heeces. If all are piled together
there is much danger OF some of the
dark fibers tecoming mixed with the
pure white wool thus lowering its val
ne. Wool taken from sheep that have
died or that is for other reasons lack
ing in quality should be kept separate
from the main clip and sold for exact
ly what it is.
Upon its removal from the sheep,
wool should be stored In a clean, dry
place where mice and other vermin will
not damage it. Much wool is either
wet when shorn, or stored where 1t is
damp, with the result that it becomes
mouidy or musty before being market
ed Aside from the fact that the water
in the wool has no value, but, rather
adds to the cost of handling the wool,
its presence may cause permanent ire
parable damage to the fibers, due 20
the heating which is likely to occur
when wet wool is stored.
After every care has been exercised
to produce good wool, to shear, tie,
and store properly, it should be sold
on its merits to the best possible ad-
vantage.