154' Essay on Sheep. 



away, and replenished with more of the liquor 

 from the vat. This mode of washing preserves 

 in the wool a certain portion of its grease, 

 which makes it spin easier. When washed it 

 may either be dried in the shade (the sun ren- 

 ders it liarsh if too hot), or, what is better, it 

 may be pressed in a cyder press, which dries it 

 much quicker; when quite dry it should be 

 laid upon cribbles, and beat with a bunch of 

 rods, which softens it, and takes out a great 

 proportion of the dust and hay-seeds; it is then 

 picked carefully, not as common wool is, but 

 by opening the flocks, which are in some mea- 

 sure tied together at the ends, and taking care 

 not to break the wool to pieces. To fit it for 

 spinning it should be greased with neatVfoot 

 oil, and carded with cotton cards, wool cards 

 being too coarse; and except the carding-mill 

 is particularly fitted for it, and perfectly clean 

 from common wool, it will run into knots, and 

 be spoiled if carded at it. For domestic manu- 

 factures, from Spanish wool, I would therefore 

 recommend the carding at home by hand. 

 In Europe it it usual, before spinning, to wash 

 the wool in the manner I have mentioned; 

 yet, from some little essays that I have made 

 upon the Merino wool, 1 am inclined to be- 

 lieve, if it is carefully picked, so as to leave no 



