208 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Qnostioii No. 1. If is a vorj nodooablo fact (hat tlio MIcliiaraii wools are no( 



3 noted as liiyrli in llic inark<'t as (lioso from soiiie otlicr states. >Vliy is this? Is it 

 ue t(» tlie faet of inferior quality or is it tiocaiisc it is not so well ;rrown and pre- 

 pared for the market i 



Aiiswor by No. 1. — In our ojnnion the reason for tlie ilitVerence between the market 

 value of Miehigan wool and tliat from otlier states, as Ohio, for instance, ia dae to 

 several causes: the inferior quality of breeding sheep, the wool not being so well 

 grown or cared for or prepared for the market, many farmers being negligent in per- 

 mitting their sheep to feed in hay or straw stacks or from hay racks. Tlie climate 

 also interferes with the proper growl li. and. in sonic measure, necessitates housing the 

 sheep during the winter months and feeding them entirely upon grain, whereas, where 

 the climate is propitious, they thrive better if allowed to graze on the farms. 



Answers by Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5. — Michigan wool is not so well grown nor is it so well 

 packed as Ohio and Pennsylvania wot)'s. The fleeces contain more vegetable matter, 

 such as seeds and chaflF, as well as a higher percentage of grease and tags. This makes 

 the shrinkage greater and the grease value correspondingly less. 



Answer by Xo. 6. — As all woo's are sold on the basis of their scoured value, and as 

 Michigan wools shrink heavier than those coming from Ohio. Indiana, Pennsylvania, 

 Kentucky, etc.. naturally, their grease price is lower. It is not on account of quality, 

 but on account of condition. In other words, shrinkage of wool. 



Answer by No. 7. — The reason Michigan wools are not quoted as high as Ohio and 

 Pennsylvania is .because, on the average, they are not as well bred, and the wool is 

 heavier: the addftional weight per fleece makes the compensation to the farmer equal to 

 other states. 



Answer by Xo. 8. — The value of all wool as marketed depends ujjon its intrinsic value, 

 thrt is to say, the cost and quality of the scoured product when sorted and ready for 

 manufacturing. The value of the scoured product is dependent upon first, staple; 

 second, character; and third, quality. Michigan wools are not usually as uniform in 

 grade, that is to say, as well bred nor as carefully put up as Ohio or Pennsylvania. 

 The shrinkage is greater a^id therefore the market value is less. 



Answer by No. !J. — One reason is, it is probably owing to the climate and feed that 

 wools in the northern tier of states are not in all respects as good "working" wools 

 as those giown further south; furthermore, the wools, as a rule, are prepared for the 

 market in a less careful manner after being shorn. 



Question No. 2.— What is the most common fault in the preparation of Michigan 

 wools for the market? 



Answers by Xos. 1. 2, .3, 4, .5, 7 and 9. — The most common fault in the preparation 

 of Michigan " wools for the market is that they contain seeds, tags stuffed inside the 

 fleeces, and too much twine (mainly sisal), to which the manufacturers object strongly, 

 as the sisal twine works into the goods. 



Answer by X^o. G. — We know of no general complaint as to the preparation of Michi- 

 gan wools. They are in good favor and sell as well as any other stocks of equal con- 

 dition. 



Answer by No. 8. — As a rule Michigan wools are not as carefully washed as Ohio 

 wools. 



Question No. 3.— What per cent of the Michigan washed wools are graded as 

 unmerchantable? What is your opinion in regard to the advisability of farmers 

 continuing the process of washing sheep? 



Answers by Xos. 1, ;{, 5, 8 and 9.— In our opinion we think lU to 12 per cent is 

 about the amount of Michigan washed wools that are graded as unmerchantable. We 

 are distinctly of the opinion that it is better for the farmers and for all concerned, 

 to market the wool in an unwashed condition. Our experience of thirty years in 

 handling Michigan wools has led us to this unalterable conclusion, and we believe that 

 the sooner the farmers adopt this universal practice, the better ofi' they will be. 



Answer by X'^o. 2. — We usually figure, in the purchase of washed wool, an extra cent 

 per pound, to allow for wool not sufficiently well washed. 



^\jiswer by No. 6. — It depends entirely as to the washing of the wool. One lot might 

 have throwTi out only a very small percentage as unmerchantable wool, whereas another 

 might all be classed as of that condition. We do not think it advisable to wash wools, 

 the unwashed being in better favor and selling more freely. 



Artswer by No. 7. — We cannot give a reliable estimate of the percentage of un- 

 merchantable, as that grade is only made out of the fine washed wool, and the "last 

 year or two there has been a decrease in the proportion of fine washed wools. 



