§ 139. WOOL. 269 



CHAPTER IX. 



WOOL. 



139. a. The sample for cxaminatioii.— Take a sample 

 from each one of several sheep just before the time of 

 shearing, and after the animals have been washed in the 

 customary manner, and from the following parts of each 

 animal — the leaf, the side, the middle of the chine bone, 

 the withers, the neck close to the nape, the middle of the 

 thigh, and the middle of the belly ; each specimen should 

 be taken from a spot an inch in diameter, and be cut off 

 close to the skin, put at once in a large glass tube of 

 known weight, that can be well stoppered, and weighed 

 when taken to the laboratory. The number of the par- 

 ticular animal and the spot from which the sample was 

 taken should be marked on a label on each tube. 



If the wool is to be examined with respect to its phys- 

 ical properties, or by one who is experienced in handling 

 it and judging its value, two other samples should be 

 taken from each animal, and from the same spots, one 

 before the washing, and the other afterwards, and all 

 samples should be preserved and labeled in the manner 

 prescribed above. 



The sample from each part of the animal is to be exam- 

 ined by itself, but if it is desired to determine only the 

 average quality of the wool of the flock, the several sam- 

 ples from like parts of the different sheep may be exam- 

 ined together. 



If a sample of unwashed wool is to be examined, 

 weigh each one, determine the water in a small portion 

 by desiccation at 100°, and w^ash the other portion gently 

 in cold, soft water until the water is no longer made tur- 

 bid, dry it, and weigh it in the air-dried state. The 

 subsequent treatment is the same as for the washed wool. 



