FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRU. 135 



cent., and " even a higher percentage of loss on rams' 

 and fat wethers' fleeces." 



Mr. L. Pomroy & Sons, woolen manufacturers of 

 Pittsfield, Mass., write that " the yolk has more ten- 

 dency to grow the wool together, and cannot be 

 scoured out to take even colors, particularly an indigo- 

 blue." The word yolk is undoubtedly here used (as 

 some writers have used it) to signify that bright 

 saffron-colored substance which appears on wool, 

 which is technically termed u yellowed," and which 

 is accompanied with more or less felting on the back, 

 or " cotting," as farmers term it. In " cotted" fleeces 

 the felting sometimes extends but a little distance 

 from the skin, sometimes far enough to prove very in- 

 jurious. 



I find the color of the yolk in the original Spanish 

 sheep alluded to but by very few writers. But Lord 

 Somerville, who visited Spain in 1802 for the purpose 

 of examining its Merinos and bringing home a flock, 

 and who is generally a very accurate writer, makes 

 the following statement in his Essay on Sheep : " By 

 yolk is meant that yellow substance which escapes 

 from the skin and is to be found in the wool of every 

 Merino sheep when in health and good condition." 

 And the very name of yolk for this substance, which 

 I believe came from Spain, would, if I have not mis- 

 taken its derivation, simply the same fact. I take it 

 for granted that it obtained that name from its resem- 

 blance in color and consistency to the yolk of an egg. 



I have pursued this question of color thus far be- 

 cause the establishment of an imaginary criterion of 

 excellence is always very unfortunate to the breeder. 

 It not only directs his time and efforts towards an 



