168 CUTTING THE HOOFS. 



The one-third rule of shrinkage was adopted by them at an 

 early day, when but very little domestic wool came unwashed 

 into the market. It was brought in usually by owners of small 

 lots, who took no care of their sheep. The wool was not 

 only frequently filled with wood-dirt, sand and dung, but it 

 was also frequently out of condition here a fleece cotted, 

 there one jointed, and anon one filled with burs. It was not 

 convenient to classify these with good washed wools, nor 

 was it obligatory on anybody to encourage their continued 

 production. Under such circumstances, the one-third rule of 

 shrinkage met the case fairly enough. 



Very few persons are the first to discover that their 

 customs have survived their original causes. Even sensible 

 men surrender old ones with reluctance, and are quite apt to 

 suspect the motives of proposed innovators. Weak and 

 prejudiced men mistake them for principles and support them 

 with bigotry and fury. As soon as the manufacturers become 

 convinced that the present feeling among flock-masters against 

 the washing of wool springs from legitimate motives, and 

 indicates a settled purpose instead of a mere freak, they will 

 meet it, not by a suspension of purchases or by holding on to 

 any unequal and unjust rules, but in a fair and business-like 

 way. But if the grower errs in denouncing and "passing 

 resolutions" against the manufacturer who does not at once 

 accede to his precise terms, not less does the manufacturer 

 err in assuming, in a matter where his own real interests are 

 not at stake, to dictate modes and times of preparing a 

 commodity for market to the producer of it ; and especially 

 in assuming that the reasons offered by the latter for the 

 change under consideration are either false or frivolous. 



I have in this connection spoken only of the manufacturers 

 as buyers, though, directly, other classes of buyers are equally 

 concerned in the question. But I have done this on the supposi- 

 tion that as all wools go ultimately into the hands of the former 

 to be prepared for consumption, their action in the premises 

 would be the controlling one among all classes of purchasers. 



CUTTING THE HOOFS. The hoofs of the improved English 

 mutton breeds usually retain nearly their natural size and 

 form. The hoofs of the Merino often continue growing to 

 twice their natural length, and their horny crusts turn up in 

 front and curl under at the sides. There is some difference 

 between individuals in this particular, and considerable is 

 made between flocks, by the nature of their summer pastures. 



