270 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Sept, 
well washed with hot water and soft soap twice or 
thrice a year. The temperature should be from 60 to 
65 degrees. 
It is added in conclusion, that the industry, cleanli¬ 
ness, and frugality of the Cheshire dairy-maids, are 
worthy of admiration. Though their labors are great, 
their cleanliness cannot be surpassed; and it is often to 
their good management that landlords are indebted for 
the payment of their rents. 
PROPERTIES OF WOOL. 
Yolk—Natural Oil, &c. —The quantity of these 
substances in wool varies greatly with the breeds of 
sheep, and various circumstances attending their ma¬ 
nagement. For Instance, in the English long-wooled 
breeds, as the Liecester, Cotswold, Lincolnshire, &c., 
there is very little of what is called yolk, and, there¬ 
fore, the washing of the sheep in the ordinary manner, 
is sufficient, with proper attention, to thoroughly cleanse 
the wool. Hence, in fleeces of this description, there 
is a greater quantity of real wool in proportion to the 
whole weight, than there usually is in fleeces from sheep 
of the Spanish or Merino varieties. Some of the latter, 
as is well-known, possess the habit of accumulating 
yolk or gum in the fleece to a remarkable degree; 
fleeces being occasionally met with, which, even after 
having been washed in cold water on the back of the 
sheep, are lessened in weight to the amount of fifty per 
cent, more, in passing through the further process of 
cleansing to which the manufacturer subjects them be¬ 
fore they are wrought into fabrics. 
Wool-growers appear to entertain different opinions 
in regard to the effect which yolk has on the value of 
the fleece. Some seem to suppose that the aggregate 
amount which they receive for their wool is increased 
from the greater weight which it possesses by being 
charged with this substance; but the sagacious manu¬ 
facturer will of course regulate his prices according to 
the condition of the article he buys, not caring to pay 
for substances which are worthless to his goods. Others, 
again, endeavor to breed their sheep with as little yolk 
and animal oil as possible, acting on the supposition that 
these substances deteriorate the quality of the fleece, 
without being of any advantage. 
Having had several inquiries in relation to this sub¬ 
ject, the importance of which requires that it should be 
understood, we addressed a note to L. A. Morrell, 
Esq., well known as the author of the “American 
Shepherd,” and from his reply we make the followiug 
extract: 
“ If you will refer to the American Shepherd, (page 
30,) under the head of “ To//c,” I think your questions 
will be nearly all satisfactorily answered. You will 
there note, that the natural oil of wool combines with 
the yolk, yet there is not a chemical union; hence the 
yolk or gum can be separated by thorough washing on 
the sheep's back, but the oil remains, at least to a con¬ 
siderable extent. This substance [yolk] is glutinous in 
its character, which causes dirt to adhere with such te¬ 
nacity to the external part of the fleece, that only the 
manufacturer’s process of cleansing will free it. By 
this, the oil, with everything impure, is eradica¬ 
ted; but if the dirt could be removed, and the oil re¬ 
main, that it would supercede the use, in some slight mea- 
rure, of grease, preparatory to carding, there is not a 
doubt. Of the benefit of oil to wool when growing, 
were we to question it, would be doubting the wise 
provisions of Providence for the benefit of the brute 
creation. All wool-growers of nice observation will 
testify, that in a fleece much imbued with oil, the 
fibres are stronger, and invariably soft in feeling; on 
the contrary, a deficiency of this substance is followed 
by a harshness and brittleness. Individuals of a flock 
will have much more of oil united with yolk than 
others, and generally speaking, in reference to the 
Merino and Saxon variety, they are the healthiest and 
best constitutioned sheep. Still I have known excep¬ 
tions to this. 
“In conclusion, I consider oil of vast importance in 
perfecting the fibre. Manufacturers have no objections 
to it, further than it increases the weight of the fleece; 
but this will rarely apply to Saxon wool, if the sheep are 
not permitted to run too long after washing before being 
shorn; not so, how r evei-, in reference generally to Meri¬ 
nos. They have it in such pi-ofusion that the dirt col¬ 
lects in enoi*mous quantity on the external part of the 
fleece, forming an indui’ated crust, which, when scoured, 
reduces the weight of the fleece nearly one-half. But 
free it of its impurity, and no wool works more kind- 
kindly than the Merino, or is softer ‘in handle ’ after 
its manufacture. I state this on the authority of a ma¬ 
nufacturer. Set it down as a f fixed fact,’ that manu¬ 
facturers have no objections to gum; but they have 
vei-y strong objections to paying as much for it as wool, 
or, indeed, anything at all. They value it as a con¬ 
comitant of a strong fibre, and therefore less wastage in 
the process of manufacture.” 
In addition to the above, we extract from the Ameri¬ 
can Shepherd the following, being a portion of the 
chapter to which Mr. M.’s letter refers: 
“ This peculiar substance, [yolk,] is so called abroad, 
from its adhesiveness and color; but with us it is 
termed gum , an appellation derived from its glutinous 
properties, quite as appropriate. It is apparent in the 
fleeces of fine-wool sheep, especially the Merino, at all 
seasons of the year, but very much so in the winter and 
spring; ami although diffused through the whole fleece, 
I yet such is its profusion in the Merino, that it is ob- 
I servable in detached concrete particles, resembling ear 
wax. According to the chemical analysis of Vauque- 
lin, it consists principally of a soapy matter, with a 
basis of potash ; a small quantity of carbonate of potash; 
a small quantity of acetate of potash; lime in an un¬ 
known state of combination ; and an atom of muriote 
of potash. Its peculiar color, w r ell known to those fa¬ 
miliar with the fleeces of Saxon and Merino, is derived 
from the infusion of a small quantity of animal oil , and 
is in every respect a true soap, which would permit of 
! the fleece being thoroughly cleansed by the ordinary 
I mode of washing, were it not for the existence of this 
| uncombined fatty or oily matter, which remains at¬ 
tached to the wool, and rendering it glutinous, ixntil 
subjected to the process of scouring by the manufac¬ 
turer. 
“ There are some, from ignorance, who imagine the 
yolk or gum to be, if not absolutely a detriment to wool, 
at least a useless concomitant. Tliis, however, is a de¬ 
cided mistake. It is a peculiar secretion from the 
glands of the skin, acting as one of the agents in pro 
i moting the growth of the wool, and by its adhesive- 
i ness, matting it, thereby forming a defence from the 
inclemency of the weather. From accurate obsei'va- 
! lion, it has been ascertained, that a deficiency of yolk 
will cause the fibre to be dry, harsh, and weak, and the 
whole fleece becomes thin and hairy; on the contrary, 
when there is a natural supply, the wool is soft, plenti¬ 
ful, and strong. The quantity is depending on equability 
of temperature, the health of the sheep, and the pro¬ 
portion of nutritive food it receives.” 
A deficiency in the natural supply of yolk, among 
some kinds of sheep in Britain, has induced the prac¬ 
tice of smearing them with various mixtures of oil ox* 
grease. An example showing the advantages of this 
practice, said to have been recorded by the eminent 
breeder, Bakewell, is quoted by Mr. Morrell, as 
follows:— 
« An intelligent manufacturer in my neighborhood, 
who kept a small flock of good wooled sheep, informed 
me he had adopted the practice of rubbing his sheep 
with a mixture of butter and tar. He could speak de¬ 
cidedly to the improvement the wool had received by 
it, having superintended the whole process of the manu¬ 
facture. The cloth was superior to what ungreased 
wool could have made, if equally fine; it was remarka¬ 
bly soft to the touch, and had a ‘good hand and feel,’ 
the appearance of the threads being nearly lost in a firm, 
even texture, covered with a soft, full nap.” 
Mr. Morrell adds:—“The additional value then, 
the yolk imparts to the wool, affoi’ds a useful lesson to 
