TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 261 



to market untied. In California, the northern counties shear 

 once a year, but the middle and southern counties often shear 

 twice a year, the wool shrinks more than that of the northern 

 counties, and it comes to market untied. Oregon produces 

 some excellent wool, though somewhat high in shrinkage. The 

 state also produces what are known as valley wools, largely 

 from long-wooled sheep. New Mexico and Arizona wools are 

 very uneven in character and often kempy, due to lack of care 

 of the sheep and inferior breeding. They come to market untied 

 and are poorly put up. 



Fig. 83. Clothing and Combing Wools. 



Washed, unmerchantable, and unwashed. Formerly the 

 practice of washing sheep just prior to shearing was extensively 

 followed in the eastern states. This gave rise to the terms 

 of washed, unmerchantable, and unwashed. Unmerchantable 

 wool is not unsaleable wool, but that which has been poorly 

 washed. Fleeces may be unmerchantable for other reasons. 

 The practice of washing is almost a thing of the past, and the 

 use of these terms does not necessarily imply that the washing 

 operation has actually taken place, but sometimes refers solely 

 to shrinkage. Washed wools are lighter in color and condition, 



