Wool in Relation to Science with Practice. 
347 
journey, and the wool is dusty and discoloured ; tub-washing being conducted 
on the farm obviates this. 
" 3. The manner in which sheep may be most successfully and advan- 
tageously washed in this country is by having two tubs, each capable of 
containing, say, five sheep at a time. The first tub should be filled with soft 
water, and in this the sheep should be washed, care being taken not to change 
the water more than is absolutely necessary, only just as much fresh water 
being added as the sheep take out with them. The oliject of this is to get the 
water as yolky as possible. A second tub should be procured, which ought tO' 
be kept constantly full of clean water, so that, after leaving the first tub, the 
sheep could be plunged into it. The use of the second tub would, of course, 
be superseded in the vicinity of a stream, into which the sheep could be 
plunged on leaving the first; or, in fact, by any rinsing process equivalent 
to tlie Australian spout. 
" 4. The sheep should be properly docked previous to washing ; thus pre- 
i venting the dung and lumps of soil which adhere to the ends of the staples 
1 from di.'colouring the wool. 
\ " 5. Much of the advantage of good washing is frequently thrown away ty 
carelessness in allowing the sheep to run, after washing, upon seeds or ploughed 
land, and also by allowing too long a time to elapse between washing atd 
, clipping. 
" Taking into account that, as compared with Australia, English clips arc 
not generally large, and also that the present operation is not really a costly 
one, the Committee are of opinion that the Australian system could not be 
economically introduced in this country, especially as tub-washing as herein 
described is in princijile the same thing. 
" What is wanted is more care aud attention to this part of his business on 
the part of the British agriculturist ; and as you remark that the outspoken 
opinion of this Chamber may be of service, the Committee venture to say that 
in this matter an amount of culpable slovenliness prevails on the part of the 
farmer, the evil effects of which are principally felt by those who deal with 
the wool in its succeeding stages, and which in any other branch of our 
national industry would not be tolerated. 
" I am, my Iiord, your obedient servant, 
" John Darlington, Secretary. 
" To the Pdglit Em. the Earl Cathcart." 
I have thus endeavoured to compress into a paper valuable 
matter that might well have filled a volume : conscious of short- 
comings and imperfections, I hope that, in consideration of my 
excellent intentions, they may be readily pardoned. The enter- 
prising gentlemen of Bradford, notwithstanding local drawbacks, 
have created for themselves and for their town a reputation which 
is world-wide, and that with a rapidity quite unparalleled in 
industrial history : * they at least, I am sure, need make no 
apology for being admirably outspoken ; for indeed I am mis- 
taken in his character if the educated English farmer cannot see 
and understand, as readily as any man, the wholesome truth 
hidden away in the old phrase — where or whence derived I 
cannot now remember — " The way to kill John Bull is to throw 
dust in his eyes ! " 
* London International Exhibition, 1871. OflScial Keport, Part VII. p. 83. 
