134 FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 
prevails among our manufacturers. The best brook- 
washed Merino wool, exposed to the air after shear- 
ing, gradually loses its lustre and softness and turns 
yellowish. For a time it acquires a waxy feeling, but 
gradually becomes dry and harsh. 
Formerly, like many other breeders, I attached 
considerable importance to the color of yolk, believing 
that it must be white, or rather cvlorless, so the wool 
would open a pure white; but Mr. T. S. Faxton, of 
Utica, N. Y., Mr. James Roy, of West Troy, N. Y., 
and Mr. A. W. Hunter, of Schenectady, N. Y., all 
practical woolen manufacturers, to whom I addressed 
special inquiries on the subject, assured me that the 
color of the yolk is of no consequence to the manu- 
facturer ; and they also say that its quantity and con- 
sistency are only important so far as they cause loss 
in scouring. Mr. Faxton, however, excepts black 
“oum” on the outer end, which he says he clips off. 
ile manufactures fine cassimeres. 
Mr. Roy puts the cost of removing the yolk at 
“not over a quarter of a cent per pound,” and the 
shrinkage in scouring of “fine fleeces, fairly washed 
before shearing,” from 85 to 50 per cent.; “ Merino 
flocks seldom under 45 to 50 per cent.” He thinks 
“it makes no difference to the farmer what appear- 
ance the oil [yolk] exhibits.” 
Mr. Hunter puts the cost of cleansing at one-half 
to one cent a pound; says he “always obtains the 
strongest staple from healthy, well-fed and conse- 
quently oily [yolky] sheep, and the tender, poorly 
grown wool from ill-conditioned and lean sheep ;” 
and he sets down the shrinkage in scouring (biook- 
washed wools he undoubtedly means) at 25 to 50 per 
