302 Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



results are wanted. Very few black fleeces are uniformly black. They 

 often contain white, gray, and brown fibers mixed with the black. 

 This explains why the so-called black fleece sells at a discount, while 

 the locks of black wool collected by the wool pullery bring a premium. 



The growth of wool must be at least three-fourths of an inch before 

 it may be profitably pulled. Some pelts are not pulled, no matter how 

 long the fleece may be, because the wool is not saleable, or not valuable 

 enough to pay for pulling. 



Scouring. — Scouring is the first process in wool manufacturing. 

 The purpose of the scouring process is the removal of dirt and grease 

 from the wool. It does not remove paint, burs, seeds, chaff, nor twine. 

 Paint is clipped from the wool before scouring. If the grease wool 

 comes to the scouring plant in bales, it is first put through a shredding 

 machine which loosens it. This machine is equipped with a blower for 

 the removal of dust, and a screen for the removal of heavy dirt. Scour- 

 ing is accomplished by passing the wool through a series of four bowls 

 or vats, each containing a different liquor. These liquors are com- 

 posed as follows: 



Bowl No. 1 — Mild alkaline solution, preferably potassium; temperature 130 



degrees Fahrenheit. 

 Bowl No. 2 — Same alkaline solution as first bowl, plus soap: should be a potash 



soap; temperature 120 degrees. 

 Bowl No. 3 — Soap solution only; temperature 110 degrees. 

 Bowl No. 4 — Luke warm water. 



Nearly all the yolk or grease is removed from the wool in the first 

 bowl. This is done by the saponification of the oil, the soap readily 

 dissolving in the warm liquid. The action of the soap in the second 

 and third bowls is to whiten the wool and give it "life" which it loses 

 in bowl No. 1. After rinsing in the fourth bowl, the wool is passed 

 through a dryer. 



During treatment in the bowls, automatic rakes keep the wool 

 moving slowly, for if it is moved rapidly through the liquids it forms a 

 ropy mass. The yolk forms an emulsion in the bowls and may be 

 recovered by chemical processes. It is known as "lanolin," and is 

 much used in salves and ointments. Clipped wools shrink as much as 

 65 per cent or more in scouring, while pulled wools shrink about 30 

 per cent on the average and often shrink only 10 per cent. The 

 difference is due to the very thorough washing given to pelts before 

 pulling. 



Carbonization. — Burs and much other vegetable matter cannot be 

 taken from wool in scouring. In the combing process, by which 

 worsteds are made, this vegetable matter is combed out with the noils 

 (short fibers not suitable for worsted yarn). It can be eliminated 

 from the noils or from clothing wools intended for carding or woolen 



