1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



569 



USES OP OIL IN "WOOL. 



LL persons who know any- 

 thing about M'ool, admit that 

 it must be oily during its 

 growth in order to be good ; 

 and that is merely admitting 

 that Nature, in a perfect 

 understanding of the work 

 which she undertakes, has 

 ' always placed it there. 



It is precisely so with the 

 hair of the horse, ox and 

 cow, and probably is with 

 all animals who have the 

 pleasui-e of wearing hair 

 which takes root in themselves. 



This oil was undoubtedly intended, not j)ri- 

 marUij, as supposed by some, for theliealihof 

 the animal, but/or the especial benefit of the 

 wool. If the wool had not needed the pres- 

 ence of the oil, there would have been no oil 

 glands to secrete it ; but as the glands are 

 there, and as the wool does need their co-op- 

 eration, the health of the animal will be im- 

 paired if the functions of those glands are 

 suspended. 



The oil in wool serves two purposes at least. 

 First, the same that it serves the common hen, 

 the mink and other fur-covered animals that 

 live both in and out of the water — that is. as 

 & protection against moisture; and this is a 

 very important consideration, especially to 

 those sheep who^e careless owners permit them 

 to remain without shelter through cold North- 

 east storms. 



Secondly, the oil is indispensable in the pro- 

 duction of the best wool. It keeps it soft, 

 pliable, lustrous and strong, with all its beau- 

 tiful parts, barbed sides, and serrated edges, 

 perfectly developed. It is elastic and pleas- 

 ant to the touch, instead of being dry and 

 harsh. 



There is nothing much easier for many peo- 

 ple than to ride a "hobby," and to ride it un- 

 mercifully, too ; and here is a sample of it. 

 In the Ohio Farmer of August 3, there is a 

 considerable portion of an essay put forth by 

 the wool-growers of Coshocton Co., in which 

 the following is the leading expression: — 

 ''Rams for coupling shouldthroio out as much 

 oil as possible, the more the better,'' and among 

 other things it is stated that this oil tends to keep 

 the wool "clean." Both remarks are extrav- 



agant, and injurious to the wool-grower, and 

 wool manufacturer, too. 



All the oil that is necessary is just what is 

 sufficient for the purposes which Ave have 

 mentioned above, namely, protection agamst 

 moisture, and to render the wool soft, plia- 

 ble, healthy, lustrous and strong; all beyond 

 that is a production which draws upon the 

 physical powers of the sheep, and adds an cle- 

 ment which is not only useless iu itself, but 

 one which subjects the manufacturer to a heavy 

 cost to get rid of belbre he can woik up the 

 wool. 



It is only a few days since we were convers- 

 ing with a manufacturer upon the condition of 

 the business at present, cost of wools, wool- 

 growing, &c., &c. Among otht r i-i marks 

 which he made, this was especiyliy remem- 

 bered : "We purchase no wool of if we 



can possibly avoid it." )Vhy not? "Be- 

 cause the shrinkage is so great on account of 

 oil and dirt that it is more expensive than any 

 other wool in the market. Besides this, there 

 is a cost of five or six per cent, for chemicals 

 to extract these substances before the wool 

 goes to the cards. The oil must all be ex- 

 tracted, or the yarn will not take colors." 

 • This is not the first time we have heard 

 some of our most experienced and intelligent 

 manufacturers say that they never desired to 

 see a pound of wool from one of our finest 

 wool-producing States, and it is entirely ow- 

 ing to the oil and dirt introduced by "riding a 

 hobby." They have bred to oil and dirt until 

 they have turned the attention of customers 

 another way. If those customers are in the 

 West, they, too, in turn, will drive manufac- 

 turers to South America, the Cane, or some 

 where else for their supplies. 



The merino sheep may be bred to produce 

 this peculiar oil or yolk in a most remarkable 

 degree. We have seen the fleece of a French 

 merino so full of it that when laid upon the 

 table — without any pressure upon it — the oil 

 has run olF from the table to the floor ! It 

 could be s(jueezed out by the hand ! Such a 

 fleece, or one only half as oily, is in a condi- 

 tion to catch and hold all the dust, chaff and 

 fine seeds that come in contact with it. It 

 creates a mass of filth which injures the wool 

 and sometimes reaches a weight which becomes 

 an intolerable burden for the sheep to bear. 



The question is, how much of this oil is ben- 



