WOOL STUDIES 



319 



and warmer water in June, making it possible to remove more 

 foreign matter from the wool shorn June 1 than was removed from 

 that shorn April 12. 



TABLE IV. YIELD OF SCOURED WOOL 



*Xot a full year's growth of wool and is not included in the averages, 

 f Sorted and dried to a constant weight at 150 F. 

 j Scoured and dried to a constant weight at 150 P. 



Table IV shows a difference betwen early and late shorn wool 

 with regard to the yield of scoured wool. This difference was 1.98 

 percent in case of the grease wool from the sheep that were washed 

 and 3.6 percent in case of the grease wool from those that were not 

 washed. 



DOES WASHING SHEEP PAY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF 

 EITHER MANUFACTURER OR WOOL GROWER? 



In considering this question first from the standpoint of the 

 manufacturer, it is extremely doubtful if washing sheep is in any 

 way beneficial. Even if the sheep are washed before shearing, the 

 wool must be scoured before it can be used, and the washing in no 

 way lowers the cost of either the labor or materials used in scouring. 

 One reason that is sometimes advanced to justify the custom of 

 washing sheep is that washing removes a sufficient amount of dirt, 

 particularly from the "dung locks" and "sweat tags" around the 

 breech and belly to prevent the staining of the wool when it is 



