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THE YANKO WOOL SHED.
We (Pastoral Times) are indebted to a oorreBpondent
for the following:
I have often heard of the Yanko Wool Shed, and being lately
in the neighbourhood I could not resist the temptation or hav-
ing a peep at it. It is situated on an anabranch of tho creek of
that name. To look at it from the outside, it dow not strike
one ns very Imposing. As you approach it, however, the click ^
click, willoh usually greets the car from a smaller establishment
is here so blended together as to produce a more melodious
sound. In the shed there are upwards of seventy men at work,
and with attendants, wool-sorters, and pressers, Sec., upwards
of one hundred hands engaged.
The arrangements aro the most complete I have ever seen.
1 lie shed itself is built of corrugated iron and wood, but pos-
sesses no feature worthy of notice, further than that it is well
ventilated. The area set apart for the shearer is in the centre,
and runs nearly the whole length of the building. Tilla part
ia entirely surrounded by sheep pens, with the exception of tho
small portion devoted to the use of the wool-sorters and
classer. The outside of these pens ia entirely circum-
vented by a universal pen, from which the smaller pens aro
supplied at will. Outside the shed tliew arc pens that corres-
pond in width with tho interior pens, but made longer, so as to
hold more sheep. The opening to these is from the wall of the
Bhcd, the doors of which are constructed EO as when opened it
forms one side of the passage, and the gato of the inside Bheop
pen when thrown back forms the other, BO that the sheep, when
shorn, can be passed into the outer yards. Immediately the door
is closed on them the pen is at once Ulled with a fresli lot, and
the gate being closed, things are na they were. Tile great ad-
vantage ot this is at once apparent-the shearer never requires
to stop, ns each has lils own pen ; the shorn sheep are removed
and the pen re-Ill led without interfering with any of the others.
At cadi end of the shed there is a yard, ingeniously constructed
with a double-race entry at end of the four corners of the shed,
and if one were not allowed to examine the internal arrange-
ments, lie would come away with tho idea that the shed was a
large machine at which the sheep entered at the ends, with the
fleece on, and were thrown out ot the sides niter tho wool w«s
shorn off. Behind tho wool stapler are situated the various de-
partments into which the wool is tossed as classed. There aro
two presses in use here ; one is the common screw, now eo greatly
in use ; the other is worthy of special notice. The frame into
which the bale Is pressed is not dissimilar'.to the ordinary frame,
with the exception that the upper half is considerably longer.
The press was made by Slesrrs. Fulton, who improved upon a
plan sent them by Mr. M'Gaw. The pressure is given by a
simple system of cog wheels secured in a strong frame which
acts upon an iron cog pillar. The first pressure is moro rapid,
and is produocd by the turning of a wheel, resembling a ship's
helm wheel. The Inward screw which lias been in tua mean-
time thrown out of gear, is then applied, and the bale pressed
to the degree necessary. Threo men can thus accomplish in
twelve minutes with this'new invention, and at a tithe of tho
labour, what three men would bo enabled to do in half-an-hour
with the common screw. The power of pressure is enormous,
and if bales could be had to bear it, the wool oould be pressed
into a less compass than the present size of bale.
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