34 The Shepherds' Guide* 



ticularly if there is any tar in the composition, in- 

 jures the wool, by rendering it very difficult to 

 cleanse. The proper method then, is to divide the 

 wool with one hand, and to apply the ointment t© 

 the skin with the finger of the other ; by which 

 means it is kept constantly soft by the warmth of 

 the skin, and equally diffused through the fleece. 

 Besides the fineness of the pile, and softness to 

 the feel, wool,, to be truly good, must be composed 

 of fibres of equal strength and thickness through- 

 out their whole length. Such wools as are de- 

 fective in this property are termed unsound, and 

 are found to be really thinner, as if jointed in 

 some part of the fibre : which circumstance great- 

 ly lessens the value to the manufacturer. This 

 fault is attributed to occasional ill health in the 

 sheep ; to exposure to heat, wet and cold, and to 

 irregularity in feeding : being suddenly trans- 

 fenced from very poor, to very rich pasture : 

 from starving, to abundance of food ; and vice 

 versa, the remedy is to keep the sheep con- 

 stantly in good store order : their fleeces should 

 be covered with the natural yolk, and when that 

 is deficient, it should be supplied by art. The 

 sheep should be kc^pt dry, and protected after 

 shearing from the ill eff'ccts of extreme heat, by 

 the application of a soft unguent. 



Wool is likewise much injured by the capsules 

 of the seeds of certain plants ; such as burdock, 

 marsh marygold, &c. which are furnished with 



