SHEEP 



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Kendal for the manufacture of linsey woolseys, blankets and scouring 

 flannels, but it is now used for felting purposes and in the low tweed 

 trade. The custom of washing sheep before clipping has greatly 

 declined, comparatively few of the Fell and Herdwick flocks being 

 now washed, though all the half-bred and finer wooled sheep are. 

 An advocate of unwashed wool in the Fell flocks was J. E. Hargreaves, 

 of Kendal, who read papers both at the Kendal and Penrith Farmers' 

 Clubs. He recommended the discontinuance of the custom of washing 

 sheep before clipping, and, at the same time, recommended farmers 

 to pay more attention to the improvement of the fleece. Long 

 discussions followed the papers, from which it would appear that 

 although a higher price is obtained for the washed wool it is not 

 sufficient to counterbalance the greater weight of the unwashed fleece. 

 The price of Fell wool in Westmorland from 1660 to 1910 : — 

 1660-1700. Average price 8/6 per stone of 17 lbs. 



