YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1188, 25 July 1911, Page 3

YORKSHIRE LETTER.

INI'J-UEXCK OP AUSTRALIAN SIIKE!' OX SOUTH Al'JilC'AX WOOL. (From Our' Special Correspondent.) Bradford, June 0, ]!)11. I have just. tini>ho(l looking over t'.vo fleeces of wool sent me from Capo Colony for examination, and tliey certainly are as good raw material as ever I liavo seen from that part of the world. Of course, even the worst countries can produce a respectable fierce at times, but there is no gainsaying (lie fact that .South Africa during the past llnce or four years has made rapid strides, producing 10-day a distinctly better staple than it has ever done. The two fleeces in question represent an excellent type of raw material, and they certainly show what South Africa can do when au enlightened and forward policy is adopted. 1 should very much tiko to have known whether these fleeces are from imported Australian sheep or whether they were native born, but be that as it may, there is no disguising the fact that the character of the staple is excellent, and makes one desirous of seeing tho whole of South Africa turn out wool of tho same quality, length, and soundness of staple. I might as well say straight out that they were produced in the Uraaf lieinet district, and arc wanting in no particular. I am strongly inclined to think that special care hart'been taken with the sheep, for although I have witnessed tho salo of South African wool in London for the past twenty-five years, seldom have 1 seen better fleeces than the ones in question. One especially reflects great credit upon the breeder; in fact, they both do. There is a nice 70"s quality, good warp length of staple, very sound, while tho spinning property and handle is all that can be desired. One is lighter in condition than the other, but is all the same a very well-grown fleece, and no doubt the condition of the country upon which tho sheep has been depastured is entirely responsible for tho little dust there is in the staple. In the case of tho other, it is a prize fleece, twelve months grown, and weighing 1331b., and it would have to bo a very superior wool to beat this one. I am asked to criticise the two fleeces, and to point out their weaknesses, but I might as well fly to the sun, for the task is impossible. All I can say is that I hopo South African pastoralists will doublo their efforts and go in ior producing a class of staple similar to what is shown in these two fleeces.

Last week a KafTrarian farmer sent me about ;i two-pound sample of his fix montns' grown clip, which comprised 87 bale?, and it-may interest readers to know that 63 of those mado the. hantl-omo. price of njd. in Port Elizabeth. Such a price 1 say distinctly emphasises the fact that (ho wool was good, and I have little, hesitation in saying that if it had been a twelve months' clip the bulk of it would shave5 have been worth in Loudon IHd. to 12d., just according to the amount of skirting wliicii was done. But even !)!d. for six months' wool cannot bo passed by lightly, and hero we havo another proof that Cape Colony, as well as the Orange River State, Transvaal, and Natal are all alike producing a better class of raw material than was the case ten vears ago. The ■question naturally arises what is the reason for this, and the answer is not far to seek. Since tho war, agriculture has certainly received a strong impetus, and I am glad that South African sheep farmers havo awakened to the situation, and have taken steps to grow what European manufacturers are demanding. Of course there is still being produced a big quantity of wasty, short clothing six mouths' staple, with a shrinkage anywhere from fiO to 70 per cent. This is wool which always drags more or less, and which is never in demand like good combing, jight conditional wool. No doubt witli time twelve months' parcels will increase, and the sooner the.better. Some contend that shearing every six months pavs better than twelve months' fleece, but'that question must be decided bv growers themselves. ,\U r can say is that the trade, will never appreciate six months' giWn wool like twelve months, and it would be a great calamity if Australian woolgrowers had to shear their sheep even- six months. Of course there are certain descriptions of fabrics which require a short staple, but as a rule there is plenty of short clothing, broken, pieces, and bellies which serve admirably the purpose. A large quantity of the short, six months' Capo wool goes for flannel manufacturing purposes, while some large quantities are taken by Germany. At the same time I would strongly urge woolg-owors in every country in the world to produce a twelve months' staple, for the competition for these wools is always keener and more widespread, simply because there are more users of this class of staple than of wools that are short and deficient in length. THE INFLUENCE OF AUSTRALIAN BLOOD. As already said, the wools of South Africa arc to-day undoubtedly a distinct improvement on anything that has ever been grown in that part of the world, and it is the; opinion of die trade that the improvement will be maintained. Among growers the pastoralists of the Orango River'. State have undoubtedly taken the foremost step, and I am g!a(! to say that their enterprise, meets with the approval; of the entire trade at this end, the importation of Au*tralian stud sheep beins; the very besl thing Ihev possibly could have done. II is'a common statement among spinners that while South African merinos are verv fine in quality, still, the bulk of the wools ore a little lean, the fibre being particularly small and thin. As one blunt Yorkshirenian said not long ago, they lack . S«ts." That may be an exaggerated way of statins the case, but no' doubt an infusion of Australian blood has certainly enriched and enhanced the value of many a Cape clip bv increasing its spinning capacity. It is possible for a merino wool to be fine yet lean, and I am certain that South African pastoralisls have done the verv best thin" bv seeking the help of Australian flocks in order to do as the Americans sav, 'Vrade up their own.

. I see in some Australian papers that ignorant writers are already lamenting ami bemoaning the fact that South African wool will shortly become a keen competitor of the Australian-grown staple, and they are fearing lower price*. I certainly think that all suck "piffle" needs treating with scant attention, for there is yet room iu the world for evcrv pound of merino wool that can he grown, because there are no existing stocks and a .ime ol drought can affect'both Australia, and bouth Africa, and so diminish seriously the supply of merino wcol. Ihen there is another side to the ques- ?".' c. y ,, uwu P pri <"ial opinion is that while (south Africa ran undoubtedly grow a very useful and acceptable stvl'e ot hnc wool, yet it will never be a'blo to compete with the best clips that are grown in Australia, therefore Commonwealth pastorahsts need never fear undue competition on the part of the Capegrown article, Xature seems to have specially blessed Australia in both climate, pasturage, and sheep, and as 1 have already said, there are no siVns of a surplus being grown just yet. I "assert that there is room in South Africa for SO thousand more stud sheep from Australia and the sooner they are imported ami distributed throughout the whole country, and the better Cape wool we shall have. Wherever a man has the financial ability to buy fresh merino blond bv all means let him do it, for bv -.o doim' he is simply laying the foundation for a better flock, besides producing a class of wool which cannot but bring liini in increased returns. The Kall'rarian farmer already referred to. imported some five years ago on the advice of the writer, a good sound robust stud rain from a leading Australian breeder, and he writes that that one sire has done wonders in his Hock, increasing the physical stamina of his sheep, besides growing a larger and more acceptable clip of wool. A HOTJDAT jr.AKICET. There is little new lo say respecting wool. This week has been marred by the Whitsuntide holidays, and yesterday was I he. first meeting held on Bradford Kxchangc. A holiday tone prevailed, and without doubt there is at present little disposition "to get down to "hard pan." There has boon so far little serious deU'lopmont in the Ihreafened strike of the combing operatives, and what will take place is hard lo say. The leaders of the union are doing their utmost to keep the men at work in order that the Wages Hoard may tackle, the requested advance of o per cent., for they recognise that anvlhing done nn uncrm-titutional lines "ill certainly do them more harm thin otherwise, fc'r the men to strike unoffici-

■illy will sit once crucify public npininn, and make thcni the objects of ridicule. The muster.-' arc maniffstin-,' so far a very strung front, and while no iloubt the men are not over-paid, still the fact nf having received three advances in two years ought to susge.-t rea.-on on (heir part.

So far as actual business is concerned, 1 here is little progress to note. Spinners seem very reluctant about anticipating the future by placing further contracts, for in their opinion they have nothing whatever to gain by to doing. The majority seem as if they were very well situated, for they are well covered for the next two to three months, and some oven live. There seems to be a desire on (heir part to get in all the tops they possibly can in order to be prepared for any strike, for they know that if any woolcombing works slop, in :i fortnight's time the trade will be in serious difficulties.