IFool in Relation to Science with Practice. 
345 
Tlie English wool-trade in 1869 found it necessary to issue to 
wool-growers the following caution : — 
" Wool is sometimes shorn in places containing chopped straw or chafi", 
when particles of the latter get mixed, and cannot afterwards be separated 
from the wool, to the great deterioration of its value ; but the Council refer 
more particularly to cases of a more reprehensible character. Thus, loss arises 
from the sheep not being properly docked or clagged before clipping ; from 
the dockings and cots being sometimes wound up in the fleeces ; and from 
want of proper attention in cleaning the fleeces when clipping, so as to keep 
them free from tar, stones, sand, earth, clay, dung, straw, grass, or other 
substances. 
"This, which many years ago it was found necessary to guard against by 
special Acts of Parliament, frequently remains undiscovered for montlis, until 
the wool goes into consumption, and a notion has prevailed that by the repeal 
of these Acts of Parliament the buyer has been deprived of his legal remedy. 
The Bradford Chamber of Commerce have, however, in conjunction with the 
Worsted Committee of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire, taken the opinion 
of an eminent Counsel on this matter, and they are assured that the purchaser 
of such ivool has a remedy at Common Laiu quite as effective as he formerly 
had by Statute. Actions have been brought, and damages recovered, both in 
the Assize and County Courts. 
" It is to be hoped that flock-masters will take due precautions against the 
recurrence of these acts of negligence on the part of their servants, which tend 
to destroy that confidence which should exist between the growers and con- 
sumers of wool.'' 
By the favour of Mr. Tindall, I am enabled to give an exact 
account of the improved system of washing sheep, adopted by the 
late Mr. William Torr, at Aylesby Manor : — 
" The tub used was made on the farm of the best ' red-wood deal,' li inch 
thick. 
" 5 feet 2 inches long 1 
" 3 feet 1 inch wide / within. 
" 2 feet 3 inches deep J 
" Strapped up each corner |2y , and capped at top, 7^ inches thick inside 
and out, 3 inches deep. L/ 
" The boiling copper holds 24 gallons of water. 
" Soft-soap used, 1 lb. to every 20 sheep. 
" Eight men are required : * four to stand at the washing-tub, one to catch 
and halter the sheep, one to stand at the head of the tub to keep the sheep's 
head above water ; one to lead water into the reserve tub ; one to boil soap, &c. 
"About 30 sheep an hour, or 300 per day, can be washed, taking an average 
of hoggs and ewes. 
" Fat hoggs, ofi' turnip-land in the spring, wc often wash twice, using half 
the quantity of soap the second time. 
" We fill the washing-tub to about two-thirds full of ordinary pond-water ; 
then fill the copper (24 gallons), into which we put 4 lbs. of soft-soap. When 
that has boiled well, put 6 buckets, or 18 gallons of this mixture, into the 
washing-tub to start with, then refill the copper, adding I5 lb. more soap ; 
* My friend and late colleague, Mr. Sanday (see p. 316), fells me he had a con- 
venient wash-pit on the old plan ; four_men washed from 80 to 100 ewes, or 50 
hoggets per hour. 
