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Preparation of Wool for Market. 



Preparation of Wool for Market. 



In view of the great competition in the trade in wool, it is 

 important that flock-masters and others should continue to pay 

 attention to the cleanliness and packing of fleeces before sending 

 them to market. The following suggestions bearing on these 

 points have been drawn up in consultation with the Bradford 

 Chamber of Commerce. 



Washing and Shearing of Sheep. 



In all districts where sheep are washed other than by the tub- 

 washing process, the sheep should be washed without any artificial 

 assistance, that is to say, in cold water without any soap except 

 the natural soap which exudes from the skin in sufficient quantity 

 at the shearing period. 



The sheep should not be allowed to run too long after washing 

 before being sheared, as this in effect brings the wool back into 

 greasy condition. Nor should they be clipped, or the fleeces 

 wound, while wet, as this takes away the liveliness from the fibre 

 and causes the wool to rot. 



The shearing should not be performed in dirty places such as 

 barns littered with chaff and straw and other matters which get 

 into the wool and cause much trouble and annoyance. The cost 

 of this fault to the dealer and manufacturer is far more serious 

 than flock-masters think, as it is often impossible to get this 

 foreign matter out without the use of chemicals, which further 

 spoil the wool. 



When the fleece is wound no earth or dung should be left on 

 the fleece, or be allowed to get in whilst winding. No locks, 

 tailings, skin wool, black or cots should be wrapped up inside 

 fleeces, neither should greasy wool be wrapped up inside washed 

 fleeces. 



Tar-Branding oj Sheep. 

 Tar should not be used where it can be avoided for marking 

 sheep. A large quantity of wool used for manufacturing pur- 

 poses does not undergo the process of sorting, and thus it fre- 

 quently happens that in spite of efforts to remove tar-marked 

 wool some of the tar passes into the finished goods, thereby 

 causing considerable damage and loss. Even when the wool is 

 sorted it is very difficult to entirely eliminate the tar. 



