MONEY FROM WOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 19

MONEY FROM WOOL

INCREASING THE PROFIT ODDMENTS AND PRICES PREPARATION FOR SALE BY H.B.T. In view of the rise in 'wool values, and particularly of wool oddments, a considerable extra amount can now be earned on most sheep farms and stations by cleaning up the inferior wool, which it has not. been profitable to handle during the past few years. At almost every woolshed there is a pile of dags which it has not paid to clip or crush, while the inferior and stained wool which they contain has been almost unsaleable. At present prices it will pay to spread these in the crush pens of the sheep yards, where, during the sheep work following shearing, they will be trampled out and the wool they contain released. If concreted forcing pens are available, there will be less loss of wool in the process. When the dags are thoroughly disintegrated and the conditions dry, the wool is forked or raked out of the litter. It is then by no means clean, but if not mixed to any extent with vegetable matter is saleable at about the price received for locks. Enhancing the Value If there is a small stream of soft water on the farm, the value of this dag wool can be considerably enhanced bv washing. The water should lather freely with soap and should not be too cold, -for yolk remaining in Btains and other dirty wool which it is profitable to wash on the farm hardens in very sold water, or that containing a considerable amount of lime. This' prevents the free removal of dirt. The wool-washing plant is simple and inexpensive, consisting merely of a few crates with open tops and sides and bottoms of perforated zinc. Inside these, on battens allowing two inches clearance above the zinc bottom, are battens which support a frame covered with half-inch galvanised wire-netting, these having a wire loop or handle at each end which projects above the top of the crate.

Tip the wool on to the wire frames in the crates, which are submerged for three-fourths of their depth the stream. The frames art> then lffted up and down in the crates by means of the wire handles, and as adhering dirt and manure is softened it is dislodged and carried away in the stream. When clean the frame is lifted oiit, with most of the wool still on it, and is rested on two trestles, or benzine boxes, to drain. Any wool which has escaped through the netting into the perforated bottom of the washing box is also forked out and drained. When sufficiently dry to handle, the wool can be spread out to dry and bleach on sheets made from scrim, old wool-packs, or even manure sacks sewn together. During this process, or when the wool is perfectly dry, dags which have not been disintegrated with the trampling and soaking can be picked out and thrown away, and if the work has been conscientiously done the result will be a bale or so of very attractive washed wool, which will realise a good figure. Handling Large Quantity

If this inexpensive plant can be installed, • two men can handle a large quantity of wool in a day. The runholder should make a practice of saving all stains from the crutch and belly and washing these in the same way, when they will bring the price of good crutchings. It is well to be quite sure that the washed wool is thoroughly dry before baling. To ensure this it should bo spread out loosely on the wool-floor for a day or so after washing. Dead wool and sandy-backs can be washed in the same way with considerable profit if the quality and temperature of the water are satisfactory. . This simple cold water washing process must not, however, be confused with " scouring," which should be done only by professionals with a proper plant. Bellies, second pieces and other wool heavy in grease should be sent to the wool-scouring works if it is determined not to sell in the grease.