210 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



than is actually necessary. A thick fiber twine is very detrimental, and most especially 

 that called sisal. 



Answer by No. 7. — The use of inferior twine is a disadvantage. 



Atiswor by No. 8. — The use of sisal twine is a very serious injury to wool, and causes 

 such damage in certain kinds of manufacture that manufacturers are obliged to use 

 foreign wools to escape the risk of damage to their goods. If your efforts can prevent 

 the use of sisal twine throughout the State it will make one step towards popularizing 

 Michigan wool. 



Qiiostion No. S. — Some liavc adv(>catod fliat wool slioiild not he tied ii|) in a wool 

 hox iMit should simply ho partially folded and rolled up. Do you (liink that wool 

 .so put up M(»ul(l reaoli tlie market in as good shape as wool |>nt up in a wool l»ox 

 largo onoiigh so tliat tho wool is not c<Mnprossod enough to make it appear heavy? 



Answer by No. 1. — Tlie use of the box we think is detrimental, as it causes too great 

 a density to the fleece, and hence in estimating the shrinkages manufacturers are liable 

 to put their figures too high, which of course is to the disadvantage of the farmer. 

 We think that if the fleeces were properly tied, as is the case in most sections of Ohio, 

 they would reach the market in as good shape as wool put up in a wool box. 



Answers by Nos. 2, 5, 6 and 8. — ^Ye do not believe it necessary or advisable to tfe wool 

 up in a wool box, but it should be simply folded and then tied with a light, strong twine. 

 We think this method still better than by tying them up in a box. In fact, some 

 dealers refuse to take wools so tied. 



Answer by No. 3. — Tie it up so as to use the least twine. 



Answer by No. 4. — No material difference. 



Answer by No. 7. — The proper twine to use is hard, smooth hemp twine, tied around 

 the fleeces once each way. 



Answer by No. 9. — We think tying fleeces in a box is bad policy. 



Question Xo. 9. — Could you .suggest any method of tying up wool, not now gen- 

 erally practiced in the United States which would he advantageou.s for our wool 

 growers to adopts 



Answer by No. 1. — The only method we could suggest in tying up fleeces properly 

 is to carefully turn in the belly and roll up the fleece, wrapping the twine three 

 ways. Our experience has taught us that, unless the wools are stuffed, very little of 

 the fleece is lost in handling. 



Answer by No. 2. — If the growers would tie \ip the wool by simply folding it, and 

 then use strong twine round the fleeces once, it would, in our opinion, be as good as 

 anything. 



Answer by No. 3. — Abroad they do not tie up the wool as a rule. 



Answer by No. 4. — No. 



Answer by No. 5. — Australian way, with two small strings only. 



Answers by Nos. 6 and 7. — The only correct method is to roll up the fleece and tie as 

 stated above. 



Answer by No. 9. — Fleeces should be tied suflficiently with fine, strong twine to hold 

 them together, and that is all that is necessary. 



Question >'o. 10. — Are the paint marks used quite generally by farmers to iden- 

 tify their sheep, a source of much loss to the producer] 



Answer by No. 1. — Paint marks are a detriment to the marketing of wool and hence 

 -should be avoided wherever possible, and we think this should be easy enough where 

 wools are grown as they are in Michigan, fences separating difTerent farmers' flocks. 



Answer by No. 2. — If the growers could get some other means of identifying their 

 sheep, other than paint, it would appreciate the value of wool, as the portion of wool 

 covered by paint is practically worthless. 



Answer by No. 4. — Not in Michigan. 



Answer by No. 5. — They are in every way. It has to be all broken out and put into 

 the low grade or strained sort. 



Answer by No. 6. — Where the sheep are marked with paint or tar it has to be clipped 

 out by the sorters before scouring and causes considerable expense and loss. 



Answer by No. 7. — About paint marks, it is necessary for farmers to mark their 

 sheep in some way, but under no condition should they use paint that has any mixture 

 of tar, as it is absolutely impossible to extract the tar from the wool, even after it gets 

 into goods. 



Answer by No. 8. — Paint marks are a disadvantage in any wool, and for some 

 classes of yarn the clips containing the paint marks cannot be used at all. It would be 

 an advantage to the grower to clip off the paint marks before shearing the sheep. 



