1.When we take a country walk in the spring-time，we see the sheep，with its thick，warm covering of wool.But when we see it in summer，its wool is very short.In June the farmer’s men wash the sheep，and then with a big pair of scissors called shears they cut off its woolly covering or fleece.
2.If we rub our hands on a sheep‘s back，we shall find that the wool is rather greasy.It is made greasy by a kind of oil which comes out of the sheep’s skin.This oil or grease helps the wool to keep out the rain，and so the sheep do not get very wet，although they are often out in the fields while it is raining，and sleep on the damp grass.
3.Wool is used for clothing；but we could not wear the wool just as it is when shorn①off the sheep‘s back.It must first be manufactured②，or made into woollen cloth.
4.Let us look at some of the wool.It consists③of a great number of very fine curly hairs or fibres.These fibres feel rough when they are drawn through the fingers，for they are covered with tiny scales④.
①Shorn，cut off with shears.
②Manufactured，made from raw materials.
③Consists，is made up.
④Scales，thin flakes or plates.
SHEEP-WASHING（洗羊）
5.Most of the wool used in this country is sent to certain towns in Yorkshire①，or in the west of England.There，at the factories，or woollen-mills，the fleeces are first pulled to pieces.Next，theraw wool，as it is called，is scoured or washed in warm water and soda，to remove the oil or grease.Then it is combed out，so that all the fibres are laid side by side.
①Yorkshire，a large county in the east of England.
WOOL FIBRE MAGNIFIED（经过放大的羊毛纤维）6.A single fibre of wool is very weak，but by means of a machine these fibres a r e t w i s t e d t o g e t h e r t omake woollen yarn，which is a strong，loose thread.This twisting together of the fibres is calledspinning.The fibres are curly or wavy，and are also rough andscaly，so that they hold together very well.
FIBRES TWISTED INTO YARN
（缠绕成纱线的纤维）
YARN WOVEN INTO CLOTH
（编织成衣物的纱线）
7.The woollen yarn is next woven into cloth by a machine called a loom.If you hold up to the light a piece of any woollen stuff，you will see that it is made of two sets of threads，which cross each other.It is this crossing andinterlacing①of the threads that is calledweaving.
8.The colour of wool as it grows
on the sheep’s back is a yellowish white.But we can make it any colour we please by dyeing②it，which may be done either before or after the weaving.
9.The most common kinds of woollen cloth are flannel，serge，merino，and tweed.Stockings，gloves，and many other articles of clothing，are also made of wool，but not by weaving；they are knitted from woollen thread.
10.Wool is a good material for clothing，for many reasons.It keeps in the heat of our bodies，and does not let in the cold air.It also soaks up the sweat from the skin very well，and thus keeps①Interlacing，lacing or twining together.
②Dyeing，colouring；staining.
SHEEP-SHEARING（剪羊毛）
us from catching cold.Although wool costs more than cotton，woollen clothes are really cheap clothes，because they wear very well indeed.
SUMMARY
Wool is got from the fleece of the sheep.It consists of a great many very fine fibres，covered with minute scales.In the Yorkshire factories the fleece is pulled to pieces and scoured.It is next combed out and spun into yarn，which is then woven into woollen cloth and dyed.The most common kinds of woollen cloth are flannel，serge，merino，and tweed.Stockings，gloves，etc.，are knitted from woollen thread.Wool is a very good material for clothing.
【中文阅读】
1．到了春天，我们漫步乡间田野的时候，便能够看到身披厚厚绒毛的绵羊。然而，夏天我们就会发现，它们的羊毛变得很短①。六月时分，农夫们替羊洗澡，然后使用一名叫羊毛剪的大剪刀把它们的羊毛全部剪下。
2．在羊背上来回抚摸，会发现羊毛非常油腻。这是因为绵羊的皮肤能够分泌一种油。这种油（也叫油脂）②有助于确保羊毛不会沾上雨水，而绵羊也因此能够避免浑身湿透。这样绵羊就能经常会在雨天时徘徊在田野之间，睡在潮湿的草地上。
3．羊毛可以用来制造衣服；不过，我们不能把剪下的羊毛直接当做衣服穿在身上，首先要加工，制作。
4．我们来看看羊毛的结构③。它由很多细致、卷曲的绒毛或纤维构成。抚摸这些纤维，会感觉到它们非常粗糙，因为上面覆盖有细小的鳞状物。
5．英国出产的大部分羊毛都被运往约克郡④或西部的某些城镇。那里的工厂或羊毛作坊首先将羊毛扯开。然后这些所谓的原毛就会被放入苏打温水中清洗，去除油脂。随后，仔细对羊毛进行梳理⑤，将它们整齐地排列在一起。
6．单独的一根羊毛纤维非常脆弱，然而，通过机器加工，这些纤维便会拧在一起并形成柔软而非常结实的毛纱。这样将纤维缠绕在一起的步骤就叫做纺纱⑥。这些卷曲的纤维非常粗糙且长有鳞片，可以很结实地缠绕在一起。
7．接下来，一台名为织布机的机器就会把这些毛纱编织成衣服。如果你拿起任何一件羊毛制品对着光看，就会发现它由两套交叉或十字形的毛线组成。这种毛线之间的交叉就是编织。
8．生长在绵羊背上的羊毛呈现的是一种黄白色。不过可以通过染色让它们变成任何我们希望看到的颜色，染色可以在编织之前，也可以在编织之后。
9．最常见的羊毛衣料是法兰绒、哔叽、美利奴以及粗花呢。长袜、手套与其他很多衣物同样也可以选用羊毛，不过它们由毛纱针织而不是纺织而成。
10．羊毛是制造衣物的理想材料，因为：它可以让我们保持身体热量不受冷空气侵袭，还能够很好地吸汗，这样我们就不会感冒。羊毛的价格比棉花要贵出不少，但是毛纺衣物真的是物美价廉，因为它们非常耐磨。
译注
①在中国，因为气候和羊的品种不同，春、夏、秋三季都可能是剪毛的季节。
②前面提到过，这就是“羊毛脂”（lanolin），可用作化妆品，俗称“绵羊油”，但并不是真正的羊脂肪。
③羊毛是细长、卷曲的实心圆柱体。纤维结构分三层，即鳞片层、皮质层和髓质层。鳞片结构坚韧，可以增加羊毛的摩擦力、光泽，起到保护作用。
④约克郡（Yorkshire），也翻译成“约克夏”，英国东北部的一个郡。
⑤“扯开”的过程叫“开毛”，清洗的过程叫“洗毛”。除了油脂，清洗的目标还有汗液和尘土。现在使用的一般是合成洗涤剂。洗毛之后需要“烘毛”，除去水分。这三个过程，现在有一种机器“开洗烘一体机”，能够一下完成。之后，还要使用化学方法去掉羊毛中的植物杂质，称之为“炭化”。
⑥在现代工业中，纺纱包括“梳毛”、“细纱”、“前纺”等多道流程。
THE HYACINTH