EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 207 



the fleece and removes a portion of it here and there and throws it into separate piles 

 or baskets. The number of sorts of wool in fleeces varies greatly, ranging from two 

 or three to five or six sorts from the same lieece. It has been found that tleeees from 

 pure-bred sheep do not, as a rule, have as many sorts of wool in them as those taken 

 from grade and cross-bred sheep. 



Fleeces uniform in quality and length of staple are most desirable for manufacturing 

 purposes. Consequently, if we wish to produce wools most desirable for the manu- 

 facturer, we must not cross indiscriminately. We can use for the foundation stock of a 

 flock grade or native ewes, and by systematic grading up with some definite breed of 

 sheep we can produce a more even grade of wool throughout the fleece. 



« MAKKETIXG WOOL. 



Unlike most other farm products, wool cannot be consumed on the farm. It is true 

 that in the days of our grandmothers, and the spinning wheel, a large part of the, 

 then small wool product of the United States was manufactured and used upon the 

 farm. Now all is changed. We neither spin the wool upon the farm, nor is it possible 

 for us, when low prices prevail, to use up the surplus by feeding to our farm animals, 

 thus converting it into meat products, as it is possible with grains and hay produced 

 upon the farm. 



The question of wool markets and the preparation of wool for the market is therefore 

 one of vital importance to the wool grower. 



PREPARATION (.)F \\ OOL FOR THI> ;MARKET. 



It is unfortunate that some of our wool growers think that there is little to be 

 learned on tliis subject, while others consider it a matter of minor importance. On 

 the other hand, we are glad to note that among the thoughtful, progre^vsive sheep men 

 throughout the State there is a general awakening along these lines and a willingnes> 

 shown to aid in an attempt to place Michigan wool on a par with the wool of any 

 other state or country — a position which her wool is entitled to hold. 



As a wool grower, the writer has always wanted to find the real reasons wh>' ^lichigan 

 wools sell lower in the markets than those from the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. 

 All who have studied the markets carefully, know that Michigan wools sell for from 

 three to five cents per pound less for the same grade of wool than those grown in Ohio 

 and Pennsylvania. They also know that there is no grade for Michigan wool above 

 X, or to put it in another way, all wools grading X or finer, are graded as X and 

 above, instead of making two grades. X, XX and above, as the grades are made for 

 Ohio and Pennsylvania wools. 



Those who are acquainted with the wools grown in the. different states assure us 

 that while perhaps the quality of wool grading XX and above, is much greatei in 

 Ohio and Pennsylvania, yet there is a considerable quantity of our Michigan wool 

 which does, in reality, grade XX and above. When it does possess the quality neces- 

 sary to grade XX and al)ove. it is not sold as Michigan wool, but as Ohio and Penn- 

 sylvania. 



If Michigan wool growers do not produce enough \^ool of the XX and above grade to 

 warrant dealers to add such a classification to our Michigan wool quotations in the 

 market, perhaps we must rest content for a time, but one thing is certain, those who 

 produce such wool from Michigan flocks should receive the Ohio and Pennsylvania 

 quotations for such grades of wool instead of Michigan quotations for a grade of wool 

 as low as X. The diflference in price amounts to no inconsiderable sum in many in- 

 stances. 



That we might get some light on the subject of quotations of Michigan wools, we 

 addressed a series of questions to several wool dealers in the United States whose 

 opinions, as far as they go, ought to be valuable. 



We give below the questions and answers: 



