218 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



TYING UP UK I'AC'KIXd WOOL. 



It will he observed that, almost without exception, couiiiiission men and wool 

 dealers agree that one of the greatest faults, if not the greatest fault, of Michigan wools, 

 lies in the waj* they are tied or prepared for the market. To sum up the objections they 

 would be something as follows: 



1. Either by neglect or intent, tags and litter are often incorporated in the fleeces. 



2. Too niuoli twine of an inferior grade is used. 



3. The use of the wool box, which packs the lieeces into a square bundle that is too 

 compact. 



Let us consider these objections. If we understand tags to refer to bunches or locks 

 of manure which have accumulated on small bits of wool about the thighs and hocks, 

 then we should say by all means they sliould be left out of the fleece, and either sold 

 separately, as tags, for what they will bring, or used as manure. We have known 

 breeders of fine wool sheep who have thoroughly washed and dried the tags and then 

 put a handful or so in each fleece. There is no'^ great objection to this, providing the 

 tags are well washed and thoroughly dry. We believe, however, that it would be more 

 businesslike to sell the waslied tags separately, as the wool will never be as valuable 



Figure No. l. 



as the rest of the fleece. We believe it perfectly legitimate to tie up all the wool that 

 grows on the sheep in the fleece, provided that the wool is free from all foreign sub- 

 stances which would add to the natural weight of the fleece. 



May we venture here to ofl'er one reason why a majority of wool growers incorporate 

 tags and litter in the fleeces which they sell? There are two distinct classes of growers 

 who put tags into the fleece. The first class includes growers who put tags into the 

 fleece either through absolute carelessness or with the evident intent of deceiving the 

 buyer. For such we have no sympathy and we have reason to believe this class of men 

 small. The second class includes growers who are progressive and business like. This 

 statement sounds inconsistent, but it is not. These men have cut out tags and litter 

 very carefully, it may be for two or three years; tliey have observed that, as a rule, they 

 get no more for their wool than the men who put tags and all into their fleeces. This 

 suggests that buyers are not careful enough in recognizing careful, painstaking methods 

 on the part of the progressive growers. Buyers know the extra value of clean wool. 

 Let them encourage the honest, painstaking growers in a substantial manner by giving 



