Worcester’s Dictionary (1860) defines morling (or mortling) as “wool plucked from a dead sheep”. Why would there be a special term for this? It’s the same material, right?
When the sheep are dead, you don’t have to take such care in removing it. One term for it nowadays is “pulled wool”, which gives you an idea about the process. The gist is to get it off the skin any way possible, which may involve chemicals that could weaken the wool.
It’s definitely inferior, so a special term is needed. Maybe some 4-H’er can step in and give some more explanation why exactly it’s inferior.
There is a notional distinction between mortling/pulled wool and fellmongered wool. Mortling being taken from carcase of a sheep that has died, fellmonger relates to wool taken from the pelt after the animal has been slaughtered.
You can only pull the wool from a carcase after a fair amount of decay, so as well as being a pretty rank task, weathering has usually affected the fibre and it is likely to be discoloured, stained, cotted etc.
[aside] There is a ancient distinction between pulled wool and plucked wool (locks and fibres found on bushes, fences etc). Plucked wool belonged to the finder, pulled wool belonged to the landholder. [/aside]
Wool is very stable to acid (conversely wool dissolves ina 10% caustic soda solution). Usually, to accelerate the process, the pelts are acid treated (usually sulphuric acid) and then the fibre is mechanically stripped once loosened.
As a consequence fellmongered or pulled wool is weaker than shorn wool, and the chemical treatment can interfere with the dyeing process. It also has a high proportion of hair and kemp (off the legs) which makes the fibre only suited to industrial application e.g. felts, padding etc.
Is that a 4-H’er answer? Please pardon my ignorance but this little black duck is not familiar with the term.
Four-H is an organization of clubs for children that emphasizes hands-on learning, particularly in agriculture and home economics. The four Hs it is named for are “head”, “heart”, “hands”, and “health”. Four-H as such exists in the U.S. and Canada but many other countries have adapted the idea.