EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 199 



THE PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF WOOL. 



IJV lIEHHKUr W. MlJMKOUn. 



Bulletiu 178.— Farm Departiueut. 



.Tauiiai'y, 1900. 



SUMJVIARY. 



1. The outlook for line wools is brisjlit, due to the almost universal falling off 

 in numbers of Merinos kept not only in Michigan and the United States, but in nearly 

 every wool growing country. 



2. It is very doubtful indeed if the American wool grower can ever afford to ignore 

 the ultimate value of the carcass producing the fleece. 



3. Mutton gi'owing. with wool as an incidental product, will continue to be a profit- 

 able industry. 



4. Every pound of wool consumed in the United States can be profitably grown here. 



5. Breed and feed affect the value of wool from the manufacturer's standpoint. 

 Indi.seriminate crossing is unprofitable. A sheep poorly nourished cannot produce a 

 healthy fleece. 



6. The manufacturer buys wool on the basis of its true value for manufacturing 

 purposes. The grower, the local dealer, the commission man and the scourer should 

 each make an honest eflort to satisfy his reasonable demands. 



7. Through established market prejudice against Michigan wools, for which preju- 

 dice the wool growers of Michigan in former years are largely responsible, and through 

 the lack of care in preparing Michigan wools for the market, the wool growers of 

 Michigan are losing $200,000.00 annually.* 



8. A small linen, or flax or hemp twine, is best for tying wool. 



(The sample of twine accompanying this bulletin is linen and can be recommended for 

 tying wool.) 



!t. Coarse, heavy paint marks should be avoided in marking sheep. 



10. More and better wool can be secured by early shearing. 



11. Loose, bulky fleeces sell best in the market. 



12. Country wool buyers can greatly aid in an effort to bring Michigan wools up to 

 the standard, by buying wool on its merits. By offering an advance in prices for wools 

 properly grown and prepared for the market, and by discriminating against poorly 

 gro^\^l, dirty or poorly tied fleeces. 



13. Commission men and wool manufacturers must buy Michigan wool on its merits. 

 They must pay as much for wools grown in Michigan as those grown elsewhere, pro- 

 vided, of course, they are equal in condition and quality. 



14. The first thing necessary is for growers to remove objectionable features of 

 Michigan wool ; the next to insist that dealers and manufacturers buy %v»ol on its 

 merits. 



15. Avoid lime and sulphur as a sheep dip. 



•This is a low fif^are. EstimatinK the annual wool product of iMtchlgan at 10,000,000 pounds, a con- 

 servative estimate, and the reduction of price 2 cents per pound, much less than the actual redaction, 

 we get the #200,000.00 Iom. 



