CLASSING THE CLIP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 277, 23 November 1936, Page 11

CLASSING THE CLIP

HINTS FOR THE SMALLER GROWER WOOL HOUSE'S VIEW With the advent of shearing-time flock owners welcome hints from the wool houses concerning the classing ol the clip. Among the smaller growers there are comparatively few who engage skilled classers, and there arc many who have become interested m wool production comparatively recently. To these in particular the following hints, which are taken from the “Wool Review” of the Victoria) Producers’ Co-operative Co., Lid., should be of interest:— If a fleece is carefully picked up and thrown out, says the company, it is impossible for it to be skirted and rolled to the best advantage. As the shearer is finishing the pickerup should be ready, and when the sheep is released straighten out the fleece with the newly-shorn side upward. The neck should lirst be pushed forward until the breeches can he reached; then the breeches should be taken one in each hand and given a little shake so as to free them of any second cuts, fribs, and stained ends. The breeches should then be brought back across the rest of the fleece and the whole gathered up, tho hold still being retained on the breeches. When throwing out the fleece on the table it should be thrown fairly well up and allowed to float on to the table. The hold on the front part, or neck should be released from underneath first, holding the breeches until the whole fleece is spread out. Care should be taken not to throw the fleece too hard, as it is TTable to be stretched or broken in two. thus causing a lot of extra work and trouble when skirting and rolling. Skirting is a very important factor in the get up of a wool clip, yet it does not always receive proper attention. When skirting a clean fleece (one free from seeds and burr), it. is only necessary to skirt very lightly, taking off the faulty and strained ends. With a fleece that is fairly burry along the edges, shouder points, and breeches it is necessary to skirt heavily, taking off all the heavy burr. When the whole of the fleece is seedy or burry it is only necessary to trim, taking off the very dirty, fatty and strained ends. Tar brands should always be taken out. When rolling throw in the neck just to overlap the lines of forelegs, then the breech to about the centre of the fleece. Bring over about two-thirds of one side of the fleece so as to cover the back: then fold over a second time the same side. This new has the back on top, with all the wellgrown portion of the fleece on the bottom. Next, fold in the other edge; then, starting at the breech, roll toward the neck. This leaves the back wool folded inside and the well-grown «houldei v.’ool exposed-