MERINO WOOL. 1%J 



The waste on British Merino wool, which has never been Clean wool 

 bashed on the sheep's lack, is rather more than one half, or half ofTanvc 

 about lOlbs. in 20, reckoning to its clean picked state. The wool in the 

 same wool, when washed on the sheep's lack, loses with the ff rease - 

 manufacturer about one third, or from rj to /lbs. in 20, which 

 is about the average of the waste of Saxon wool. Whereas, 

 the best imported Spanish wools will not waste more than half 

 that amount : viz. from 3 to 4lbs. in 20. It is obvious, that 

 a proportionate difference must be made in price, for the 

 different conditions in which British Merino wools are pro- 

 duced ; the manufacturer will be better able to estimate the 

 probable waste of the wool that has been washed on the sheeps* 

 back, as there is so much dirt, sand, and filth, generally 

 with the wool in its genuine, unwashed state, that the waste 

 must be always uncertain. I think, therefore, that wool 

 washed on the sheep's back will be the most merchantable. 



I would also remark on the most preferable mode of manag- Lamb's fleece 

 ing the lamb's fleece, which I should recommend cutting, ^i"/ 

 in preference to remaining on the lamb, till he becomes a 

 yearling, as practised by many. The external part of the 

 hog's fleece, which was the original lambs-wool, suffers most 

 materially from the inclemency of the weather and the winter. 

 In its state of lambs-wool it is beautifully soft, but being af- 

 terwards protruded from the new coat, it is in that condition 

 exposed to the snows, winds, and rains of the winter, by 

 which it becomes entirely deprived of its grease, and as coarse 

 as the wool of our common country sheep. The deteriora- because it i* 

 tion of this exposed part of the fleece, in one season only, {J^ej^osure 

 fully proves what effect climate and weather have on the fibre 

 of wool ; it is therefore certainly desirable to shear the lambs, 

 as in Spain 3 and although the covering may be more complete 

 for the young sheep against the winter with the lambs coat on, 

 yet the being rid of the incumbrance of a wet draggled fleece, 

 in deep soils and bad weather, is of great advantage to the 

 young and tender sheep. 



EDWARD SHEPPARD. 



Vleij, Gloucestershire, March 5, 1812. 



General 



