WASHING WOOL. 155 



the organic structure of wool and the condition of the sheep, to 

 all sorts of wool alike. 



Wool in its natural condition contains many impurities, dirt of 

 all kinds, sand, dung, and the usual secretions of the skin, and be- 

 fore it can become fitted for the uses of the manufacturer, it must 

 be freed from these impurities. The wool-buyer, who generally 

 comes between the farmer and the manufacturer, does not demand 

 that the wool should be thoroughly cleansed, but only freed from 

 its grosser impurities. No washing that the farmer could give 

 his fleeces would be sufficient for the purpose of the manufacturer, 

 who scours the wool in hot soapsuds before he can cleanse it suffi- 

 ciently. But nevertheless, the buyer prefers the fleeces to be 

 partly cleansed, and this partial cleansing is what is generally 

 known as " brook washing." 



WASHING THE WOOL on the sheep's back is the usual practice. 

 There are several methods of doing this. Where a brook or river 

 can be used for the purpose, all that is needed is to choose a place 

 where the water is waist deep, and the bottom is gravelly. A 

 muddy or sandy bottom is to be avoided, as it will be impossible 

 to prevent some of the bottom from being stirred up and mingling 

 with the fleece. Cases have been known in which such a bottom 

 has been chosen for this purpose with the special object of adding 

 to the weight of the fleece by the admixture of sand. It is hardly 

 necessary to say that this mode of cheating can never be profita- 

 ble ; if one lot of fleeces thus adulterated be palmed off upon the 

 buyer, his remedy may be a severe one, and at the best the cheat 

 will not be forgotten. Generally, however, buyers are not to be 

 imposed upon, but look sharply enough after their own interests 

 to discover all attempts at dishonesty, and to make the perpetrator 

 pay soundly for his error. In washing and making up wool, the 

 most thorough honesty will be found to pay well in the long run, 

 and a reputation for fair dealing will often be found to have a 

 direct money value, especially when the market happens to be 

 against the seller. 



Soft water is to be preferred for washing wool. Hard water 

 leaves the wool harsh and dry to the hand, and detracts from its 

 appearance in the market. Soft water leaves the wool soft and 

 mellow, and it more rapidly recovers it? tone and elasticity when 

 washed in water free from lime. The ground having been chosen, 

 the sheep should be closely penned upon the bank of the stream ; 

 the side of the pen next the stream should be narrow, with a pas- 

 sage-way leading to the water. A plank platform, projecting over 

 the bank, from which the sheep can be plunged directly into the 



