EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 209 



Question Xo. 4. — Is the practice as comnion as foniierlyj (Those who liave tried 

 it seem to favor shearing- in April. If this is jifenerally practiced washing" sheep 

 would he iuipossihle. Would the avsfument agrainst early shearing because of 

 inability to wash sheep before shearing be a stronj? oneJ; 



Answers by Nos. 1, 3, 6 and !J. — The practice of wasliing is not as common as for- 

 merly, wliich is probably due to the low value ruling during the free wool period and 

 the fact that the farmers have found that it was distinctly to their advantage to market 

 their wool unwashed. 



Answers by Nos. 2. 4, 5, 7 and 8. — The principal argument against early shearing, 

 it seems to us, would be in the fact that the staple would be shorter.* Ordinarily 

 the Eastern wool market is a little higlier in April than in June and July, and the 

 early shorn wools command a better price in consequence, ^^'e are inclined to favor 

 the practice of shearing unwashed, rather than washing. 



Question ^o. 5.— On account of the prevalence of ticlis, lice and scab in many 

 sections of the United States, dipping- has become almost a necessity. Do you 

 find that certain dips are detrimental to the fleeces or do they in any way lessen 

 their valueJ If so, what dips ought a farmer to avoid? 



Answer by No. 1.— We have been considerably interested in the question of dips 

 and have no hesitation in saying that a lime and sulphur dip is both injurious to the 

 sheep as well as to the wool, although it is very effective in killing ticks, lice and 

 scabs. Tn the extreme west, that is Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, where the larger 

 flockmasters have made dipping a special study, they incline to some form of tobacco dip, 

 believing that it is less injurious to both the sheep and the wool and nearly as effectual 

 as the lime and sulphur. 



Answer by No. 2. — Dipping has become almost universal. A great many of the dips 

 used are harmful idr various reasons. Just exactly what dip to use we cannot say, 

 but we know that there are some dips which hurt the wool and depreciate its value. 



Answer by No. 3. — Avoid lime and sulphur. 



Answer by No. 4. — Yes. All dips make the wool look dingy. 



Answer by No. 6. — Some dips are very detrimental to the wool, setting their grease 

 and making it impossible to scour them w^hite. We, however, are not familiar enough 

 with the different dips to recommend any particular class or kind. 



Answer by No. 8. — We are not very familiar with sheep dips. We do not remember 

 seeing any dipped wool that had not been injured in value by dipping. 



Answers by Xos. 5 and 9. — Dipping of sheep is detrimental and depreciates the value 

 of the wool more or less. 



Question Xo. 0.— Can yon conceive of a dip being: so compounded that it would 

 be an actual advantag-e to the growth and condition of the woolJ 



Answer by No. 1. — We cannot conceive of any dip being so compounded that it will 

 be an actual advantage to the growth or the condition of the wool, except where the 

 sheep are afflicted with ticks, lice, scab or some other skin disease. 



Answer by No. 3. — Yes. 



Answers by Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9. — No. 



Question Xo. 7.— Is the use of inferior twine and too much of it common enough 

 to make it advisable to explain to wool growers the best grades of twine to use, 

 the amount to use, etc.? 



Answer by Xo. 1. — The use of inferior twine, and too much of it, is certainly a 

 great drawback to the marketing of Michigan wool, and under all circumstances should 

 the use of sisal or binding twine be avoided, as manufacturers discriminate strongly 

 against fleeces tied up in this manner, as the vegetable substance gets into the yarns 

 and ruins them unless the wool is carbonized. Tlie latter process takes the life out of 

 the fiber and also weakens it, hence carbonized wool is only used in inferior fabrics. 

 We think six to eight feet of twine, such as the sample herewith enclosed, is sufficient 

 to tie the wool in such manner that the fleeces can be marketed in good shape. 



Answer by Xo. 2. — It is advisable for the grower to use as little twine as possible, 

 and such twine should be of the best grade. It should simply be wound round the 

 fleeces once. 



Answers by Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 9. — Yes. 



Answer by N^o. 6. — A small, hard round twine should be used, tying up the fleeces 

 once across each way, the same as you would tie up a box, not using any more twine 



* The staple would be no shorter if sheep were shorn in April each year. 

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