A Caution to Sheep Farmers.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 106, 1 November 1897, Page 3

A Caution to Sheep Farmers.

The proprietors of Coopers Sbeep Dip have issued the following circular : - - Certain persons are now issuing in tbese colonies a so called analysis of Cooper's Sheep Dippiug Powder, by the ■ide of their " imitations " of it, pre sumably for the purpose of trading upon the world-wide repute of the original preparation Ac attempts to secure business by these means are really practical admissions by rival makers of tbe sterling merits of Cooper's Dipping Powder, such conduct may be safely left to tbe condemnation it deserves. It is, however, desirable to place an important fact before tbe many users of Cooper in order to prevent some amongst them from being misled. During tbe last balf century about fifty of these imitations of Cooper's Powder have beeu attemted, all ending io comparative failure, wbilst the demand for the original has so enormously increased every year that its annual sale now exceeds that of all other manufactured dips put together. This cirenmstance is explained by the indisputable fact of tbo ingredients of tbe Berkbamsted preparation being passed through certain chemical processes, in regard to which imitators are absolutely ignorant Tbe treatment which every particle thus undergoes — occupying as it does over four weeks in tbe process— produces one of the most perfect chemical compounds known in commerce, and though analysis may give imitators the ingredients, yet their ignorance of the nature of this special treatment results in yieldietg only mere mechanical mixtures, which are not only different, but are in every way inferior to the original. In those lasting properties and beneficial effects upon tbe skin of tbe sbeep, which are tbe notorious characteristics of Cooper's Powder, tbese imitation powders bear no comparison. Recognising tbese undoubted facts, an emissary from one of tbe largest English manufacturing firms of artificial manures recently attempted to obtain access to the Berkbamsted Factory. Instead, however, of procuring the information he was in quest of, this spy found himself in possession of a cold bath in tho caDal which rnns through tbe premises. This incident at least serves to show that something besides cbemical analysis must be necessary wben a large firm of " chemical manufacturers," with all tho special knowledge of the trade at tbeir disposal, feel themselves obliged to resort to such means for obtaining information.