384 JUDGING SHEEP 



graded on their quality into Picklock, XXX, XX, X, No. 1 

 or one-half blood, No. 2 or three-eighths blood, and No. 3 

 or quarter blood. Picklock and XXX are rare. 



Delaine Wool. — Delaine wool is about three inches in 

 length, sound in staple and is used in manufacturing delaine 

 cloth. The wool is further graded into fine, medium, and 

 low. It is also classed under combing wools. 



Combing Wool. — Combing wool averages three or more 

 inches in length. It should be strong enough to withstand the 

 combing process. Such wool is graded into half-blood, three- 

 eighths blood, quarter blood, low-quarter blood, and braid. 



Variation in Fleece. — Each fleece contains a number of 

 distinct grades of wool; for instance, the finest wool of the 

 fleece is found over the heart or along the shoulders, the 

 next finest along the sides. The back of the fleece which has 

 been most exposed to the rays of the sun and weather is 

 usually dry and harsh. The neck, legs, and lower parts of 

 the fleece yield shorter wool, while the lowest grade is found 

 on the hindquarters. 



Before any of the wool is actually worked in the mills 

 it is sorted according to the grade and thence used for the 

 various purposes for which it is adapted. This emphasizes 

 the necessity of having the fleece uniform in quality and 

 condition throughout. While this is difiicult to find in 

 the average sheep, yet the nearer this condition can be 

 approached the higher the wool will grade and the more 

 valuable it will be on the market. Kemp and foreign matter 

 damage the wool materially and for this reason care should 

 be exercised in detecting the condition. 



Score Card for Mutton Sheep. 

 General Appearance — 40 Points. Perfect score. 



Weight: score according to age ... . . 6 



Form: long, level, deep, broad, low set, stylish ... 10 



Quality: clean bone, silky hair, fine skin, light in offal, yield- 

 ing large percentage of meat . ... ... 10 



Condition: deep, even covering of firm flesh especially in 

 region of valuable cuts. Points indicating condition or 

 ripeness are thick dock, back thickly covered with flesh, 

 thick neck, full purse, full, low flank, plump breast 10 



Temperament: lymphatic, inclined to fatten 4 



Carried forward . 40 



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