332 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



(4) Use as little force as possible in handling the sheep. 

 Some are nervous and struggle, and should be handled gently. 

 If shearing is done in warm weather, see that a struggling 

 sheep be not exhausted and overheated. It might better be 

 freed, as it may die if the struggle is continued. 



(5) Do not shear when the fleece is wet. In this condi- 

 tion it will mould and the fiber be weakened. Wet wool 

 may also get stained if dung locks are present in the fleece. 



(6) Use only standard wool twine, such as paper or hemp. 

 Binding twine is a positive damage. Its vegetable fibers 

 catch in the wool and can not be removed except by hand 

 labor after they are woven in the cloth. 



(7) Leave out all dung locks and coarse belly and britch 

 wool from the fleece, selling this separately. Thus you 

 establish a better reputation for your wool as a dependable 

 product. In Australia the common practice is to skirt the 

 wool, removing the inferior, coarser parts at the neck, legs, 

 and sides, and selling these separately. This custom has 

 given Australian wool its fine reputation. 



SOME WOOLLY QUESTIONS 



1. What are the leading wool-producing countries? 



2. What is the felting property, and what is natural felting? 



3. How does wool differ from common hair? 



4. Can you explain the significance of the word "count"? 



5. What is the relationship of soundness of fiber to its usefulness? 



6. Why do wool buyers object to fleeces containing a large per cent 



of yolk? 



7. What is meant by grading wool? How is it done? 



8. How do combing and clothing wools differ? 



9. What grades of combing wools are there? Can you give them? 



10. What are some good rules to follow when shearing? 



THINGS OF INTEREST TO DO WITH WOOL AND SHEEP 



11. Examine some fiber of wool and hair under a microscope. 



12. Note the difference in the character of the wool on one sheep. 



13. Collect ounce samples of fleeces for comparison. 



14. Make up a collection of market grades, and obtain their market 



prices per pound? 



15. Report on the kind of shearing practiced in your neighborhood. 



16. Try your hand at shearing and note the result. 



17. Bring in samples of worsted and woolen cloth for class inspection. 



