1907.] Preparation of Wool for Market. 241 



The Home Wool Buyers' Association have issued the following 

 suggestions to wool growers on the preparation of wools for 

 the market. 



Preparation of Wool W ashing. — Sheep to be carefully 

 for Market.* washed, and clipped within 10 or 12 

 days after washing, otherwise the wool 

 cannot fairly be sold as washed. Sheep should be properly 

 dagged before washing, as the manure not only discolours the 

 water but damages the fleece. 



Clipped when Dry. — Sheep to be thoroughly dry before being 

 clipped, as wool clipped in a damp state quickly deteriorates 

 in appearance and value. 



Clipping Yard. — The yard or shed where clipping takes 

 place to be kept as clean as possible. Every care should be 

 used to keep the wool free from grass, straw or vegetable 

 matter. 



Winding Wool. — The fleece to be neatly wound (no string or 

 twine should be used). All daggings to be taken off. Locks 

 and broken wool to be packed separately. 



Dip. — No dip which discolours the wool should be used. 



Branding. — The sheep to be branded in such a manner that 

 little of the marking remains when fleece is clipped. All parts 

 affected by tar and composition have to be clipped off before 

 the wool can be used, these being of little value. The Associa- 

 tion recommends all sheep to be marked with a mixture that 

 is soluble in hot water, and whenever possible on the head. 



Storing. — It is very important that wool should be stored 

 in a dry place, and kept as clean as possible. No grain should 

 be near the wool as it is often carried into the pile by vermin. 



Weighing. — No reliance can be placed on the weights of wool 

 weighed in bulk at the railway stations. 



The Association recommends that wool should be weighed 

 in some more reliable manner. The railway companies only 

 weigh for traffic purposes and do not guarantee correct weight 

 between buyer and seller. 



* See also Journal, Vol. xiii., No. 5, August, 1906, p. 293, Vol. xiv., No. 2., 

 May, 1907, p. 96, and Leaflet No. 82. 



(1824) Q 



