SHEARING METHODS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14512, 19 December 1912, Page 6

SHEARING METHODS.

The recent wool sales have clearly proved tha? there is a keen demand for our wool in tho United States, and thero Ls no doubt that the needs of Canada are also reflected in the local market. Statistics show that the wool clip of the United States is approximately 300,000,0001b, and tho amount, of wool imported annually is about 250,000,0001b, so that tho total consumption, when trade is good, is between fivo and six hundred million pounds. The Canadian wool clip is estimated at about 14,000,0001b, and the imports are a littlo under seven and a half million pounds. These figures indicate that the homo market for wool in America and Canada is of considerable importance to the local flock-owners as well as to those whose consignments come from oversea. This being so, it is somewhat surprising to find that American and Canadian sheep-farmers are very much behind the times in the matter of shearing, sorting, and packing the golden -fleece. The people of Canada and the United States pride themselves upon their wide-awake business methods, c but judging from tho official report of the Commissioners who enquired into the sheep industry in Canada, Great Britain, and America, they have something to learn from Australian and New Zealand pastoraliste in the direction of profitably handling their wool. "From shearing to marketing, no " country in the world handles its wool "in a worse manner than Canadaj" is the plain, unvarnished statement of the Commissioners, who are Canadians, by the way, and not likely to be. unduly severe on their own country. It is true that the Canadian wool-grower has difficulties to contend with that do not handicap the Australasian grower, for, with the exception of Vancouver, Island and a small portion of th© mainland of British Columbia, hand-feeding of sheep has to be resorted to on account of the climatic conditions. This results in straw, hay, chaff, etc., contaminating the fleece, but with the exception of a fow men who own purebred flocks, growers aro criminally careless about this important point, and practically no trouble is taken to minimiso tho deleterious effect caused by foreign substances in the wool. Consequently, when tho sheep aro ready for shearing in tho spring, their fleeces contain not only fragments of their winter feed, but a largo proportion of burrs, seeds, etc., that were collected in tbo autumu from tho pastures. This form of carelessness naturally means a considerable loss to • the Canadian wool-grower. Other minor faults are, however, completely eclipsed by the serious omissions and crudities of the shearing-shed. It is here that tho downright carelessness begins, for which there is no excuse. Shearing in Canada is generally done on dirty floors littered with straws and other refuse. Tbo hand-shears are used in the majority of cases, and they are often handled in an inexpert and destructive fashion, resulting in jagged ridges, much ''second cut," and a most uneven staple. When the operation is completed, tho fleeob is bundled up anyhow and tied with a piece of string, which is Usually the vilest and most objectionable jute twine imaginable. Dirt and dags aro seldom removed, "classing" is not dreamed of, and the fleeces are thrust into common sacks to await the buyer. It is only fair to "add that a few of the more progressive men use methods more in accordance with Australasian ideas, but the rank and file have undoubtedly much to learn. In tho United States affairs are possibly a little better but tho shearing sheds in most parts of the country are very crude when compared with the well-equipped stations of Australia and New Zealand. It is surprising to find a great country with such a reputation for big corxunodioos buildings, laboursaving devices, and progressive business systems, so backward in this respect. It is more surprising to find

tho system of packing so careless, and tho buying and selling methods so unsatisfactory to all concerned. Tho shearing theds of the West are as primitive as possible, but machiuas aro used in many places instead of the old hand briars, though the "blades" hare to b* used in some parts because the machines shear too closely for the frequent spells of cold weather that prevail in the shearing season. .Dirty floors, rough nethods, and bad shearing aro tho rule, as in Canada. The unfortunate sheep get severely mauled in tho process, as the numerous raw patches testify, and the fleccci, are hacked off in a. manner that reduces their value sometimes as much as 20 per rent. "Classing" is conspicuous by its absence, and the woo! is tied and tho fleeces tramr_vf into large sacks made of coarse hessian, which are then weighed and b-anried in the ordinary manner. Xo wool tables arc provided, the ticing and roliins- being carried out on tho lloor. and the whole operation is carried out in a manner calculated to give an up-to-date Xew Zealand pastoralist a heart attack. The falso packing or wool has been a burning question in tho United States for years, and many of the things done, seem almost incredible. . Apparently it is not the western rancher that is so much to blamo as tho small farmer of Ohio and Pennsylvania, who takes the palm for—shrewdness, shall wo call It r* Xot only has ho persistently used the objectionable sisal twine, but excessive quantities of very Iccse-spun jute, even worse than binder twine, for tying operations, and cases have been known of 121 feet of such twine being found in one fleece of Ohio wool, and. twenty-two lnmbs ! tails wero discovered in a fleoco from Pennsylvania! These aro no doubt extreme cases, but stones, dirt and all sorts of rubbish aro still found in American wool. It is practices such as these that spoil j tho wool market for the honest producer who does his best to bring his clip forward in a clean and sound condition.