ooo 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



teen luinclred foot of this twine to tho ])onii(l and it can lio pinc-liasod for about ten 

 cents ))or pound. Tlie only ol)j('(tion raised to tlio use of a small fine twine for tying 

 woo! was that it was hard on the wool paeki-rs" haiuls. 



We ean see how many jjrowers would need to ehan<i;e their wool ho.ves to liold the 

 ends of the twine. However, we do not liesitate to say that if Michip;an farmers would 

 generally adopt a small hemp or linen twine, this alone would go far towards placing 

 Michigan wool on a par with Ohio and Pennsylvania wools. 



A Merino fleece cannot he properly tied with one string each way. We can see no 

 objection to using two or even three strings each way if it seems necessary to keep the 

 fleece intact until it reaches the wool merchant or manufacturer. The great weight 

 and character of the Merino fleece makes more twine necessary than with the more open 

 wooled breeds of sheep. In our ojiinion two strings each way are sufficient. If the 

 fleeces were not to be handled much, one each way would be ample. 



The majority of the wool boxes, which tie the fleeces in a square bundle, are too small. 

 The most of them were made for fleeces from Merino sheep and new ones have not been 

 made for handling more bulky, coarse wool, consequently, the fleeces are packed too 

 snugly together. This gives them a hea\-}', soggy appearance, when they should present 

 a light, loose and bulky appearance. 



The method of tying wool in Canada is quite satisfactory. The fleece is spread out on 

 a clean shearing floor with the oiiter ends of the wool up. The skirts of the fleece are 

 folded in towards the center, only a trifle at each end, but considerably on the sides, 

 so that the sides lap well, then the fleece is rolled from end to end, making a short, 

 cylindrical roll of wool. A small hemp twine is then run snugly around the roll a little 

 distance from each end. 



Figure Xo. 7. 



Fig. No. 7 shows a nine-pound Shropshire fleece tied in this manner. Seven feet 

 of twine was used in tying the fleece. It is said that a good lively man, who is accus- 

 tomed to tying w^ool in this manner, will tie after eight or ten shearers. 



Fig. No. 8 shows a fleece tied iip after the manner in which some Englishmen tie their 

 fleeces. No twine is used, but simply a roll of wool. This method is in no way to be 

 recommended. It is not economical of time and does not leave the fleece in good con- 

 dition, as it binds it too closely in some places, while it leaves the fleece in the best pos- 

 sible condition to get torn. 



Before leaving this subject we wish to speak of a wool box -which is quite generally 

 used in some parts of Ohio. When the fleece is tied it does not have the heavy appear- 

 ance that is so characteristic of the square box made fleece. It is sometimes spoken 

 of as the round box or table, owing to the appearance of the fleece when ready for the 



