Merino-Rycland Breed of Sheep. 518 



tnoderately twisted, is much firmer in handling, or moving, than when tied upwidi 

 twine. 



The wool should be kept in baskets, or wooden compartments, rather than in 

 bags, which are liable to be rotted by the yolk. It is subject to become damp 

 by absorbing moisture from the atmosphere, and will, therefore, generally be 

 found to weigh more in the winter, and, of course, to waste more in scouring, 

 than in hot weather, when it is first shorn. To this change we may doubtless 

 attribute the common prejudice, that wool grows after having been separated 

 from the animal. If, however, it be re-examined, after a continuance of hot 

 and dry weather, it will appear to have been, by evaporation, nearly, or 

 quite, reduced to its original weight. In the Agricultural Dictionary, called 

 The Complete Farmer, I find the following experimental table of changes in 

 weight, suffered by wool in different successive months. 



Wool shorn dry, and laid up in a two-pair of stairs room, on a boarded 



floor, 



lb. oz. 



1746 August 10 weighed jS 6 



September 7 • 76 8 



October 14 77 ^^ 



November 18 ■ 78 o 



1747 January 26 ■ 80 o 



February 20 80 4 



March 23 79 ^ 



April 18 "^7 13 



June 24 76 8 



July 28 76 8 



September 16 75 15 



November 2 ■ 78 1 



December 8 • 78 14 



1748 February 15 79 1 



Another parcel of wool, under the same circumstances, weighed as follows : — 



lb. oz. 



1756 August 30 weighed 36 9 



November 19 37 2 



1757 February 19 — — 37 12 

 VOL. V. 3 U 



