134 FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



prevails among our manufacturers. The best brook- 

 washed Merino wool, exposed to the air after shear- 

 ing, gradually loses its lustre and softness and turns 

 yellowish. For a time it acquires a waxy feeling, but 

 gradually becomes dry and harsh. 



Formerly, like many other breeders, I attached 

 considerable importance to the color of yolk, believing 

 that it must be white, or rather colorless, so the wool 

 would open a pure white ; but Mr. T. S. Faxton, of 

 Utica, K Y., Mr. James Koy, of West Troy, K Y., 

 and Mr. A. W. Hunter, of Schenectady, N. Y., all 

 practical woolen manufacturers, to whom I addressed 

 special inquiries on the subject, assured me that the 

 color of the yolk is of no consequence to the manu- 

 facturer ; and they also say that its quantity and con- 

 sistency are only important so far as they cause loss 

 in scouring. Mr. Faxton, however, excepts black 

 " gum" on the outer end, which he says he clips off. 

 He manufactures fine cassimeres. 



Mr. Roy puts the cost of removing the yolk at 

 " not over a quarter of a cent per pound," and the 

 shrinkage in scouring of " fine fleeces, fairly washed 

 before shearing," from 35 to 50 per cent.; " Merino 

 flocks seldom under 45 to 50 per cent." He thinks 

 " it makes no difference to the farmer what appear- 

 ance the oil [yolk] exhibits." 



Mr. Hunter puts the cost of cleansing at one-half 

 to one cent a pound ; says he " always obtains the 

 strongest staple from healthy, well-fed and conse- 

 quently oily [yolky] sheep, and the tender, poorly 

 grown wool from ill-conditioned and lean sheep ;" 

 and he sets down the shrinkage in scouring (brook- 

 washed wools he undoubtedly means) at 25 to 50 per 



