OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1815, 30 July 1913, Page 14

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

LAMBS' WOOL,

SOME POINTS FOR GROWERS.

(From Our Special Correspondents.) ■ Bradford, Juno 20, 1913. Tho question of lamps' wool is one which is of practical interest to pasloralists in every country in tlio world. The fact is. lambs' wool is exceedingly useful, and quite apart from the specific uses to which it is put, trade as u whole could not possibly keep alioat unless young stock were continually coining in to kesp up the stamina and quality of the flocks. Lambs' wool is an article used in a very great number of mills, which cannot bo substituted cither by combing or clothing- wools, lambs filling a special position in tho production of fabrics where longer wools would be a complete failure. JL'articulars are not to hand at present, but wo suppose that when the final figures for the current wool year aro issued, details will bo forthcoming showing tho sales of lambs' wool at the various centres in tlio Australasian markets. The figures will form an interesting comparison with tho previous season, but this; week we have information from Sydney to tho effect that only about 15,000 bales have been offered for tho wool year 1912-13, compared with 30,900 bales for the previous season. This shows that the supply of lambs was practically cut in two, and tho 'same remarks will apply not only to Sydney, but to every other market in t'ne Commonwealth as well as London. Why Are Lambs So Useful? The outstanding feature of lambs' wool is its general utility, and tho more practical knowledge one has of the woollen, (lannel, and hosiery trades, tho more its uses are appreciated. Anyone who will carefully exainino tho handle of lambs' Wool cannot but be impressed with its springy nature. A man can take either combing or clothing wool, and wo will undertake to say that if a handful of combing is pressed hard in'one hand, and a handful of lambs' in - the other, and then released, tho lambs' wool will rebound and fill a larger space than the combing, and it is surprising what a difference there is in the appearance and handle of a.fabric made from lambs' wool compared with combing. In fact, for certain purposes combing.or clothing would be entirely useless. This is not due to any deficiency in the staple of these descriptions, but simply to the lambs possessing inherent characteristics which aro present in no other description of raw material. One can almost hear a pastoralist say. that locks are probably more liko lambs' wool than any other staple, and while that may ba so, there is not tlio' handle or appearance that wc find in the fleece of the young sheep. We have known lambs' wool be combed; in fact, one firm in Bradford makes a speciality of producing lamb tops, and they serve a special purpose. Of course they are mostly combed on the French principle, where shorter stapled material can be better, utilised than on the Noble or Holdon comb. Lamb tops are combedand spun on tho French principle, to bo utilised in the production of the finest class of underwear. , Characteristics of Lambs' V/ 001. There are several leading features about lambs' wool which make it valuable for textile manufacture. We have already dealt with the question of handle, and this aspect of the case cannot be overdone. In tho production of soft, spongy fabrics, lambs' are par excellence. Take, for instance, flannels, one has only to have an intimate knowledge of the London wool sales to know that every bale of lambs' wool is carefully valued by a g-cod baker's dozen'of Yorkshire and Lancashire flannols manufacturers, who largely set the pace for them. The best descriptions are mostly secured by hosiery manufacturer*, and as'a'rule the very high priced parcels go specially for underwear purposes, v.'hc-re price is no object. Tho firms buying these superior lines of lambs' wool know that they must purchase them when offered in December and January, otherwise they will not lie ti'.rre at any succeeding series of London sales. The samo thing obtains in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney, it "being the handle and blobbiness of fibre which makes them to bo so much appreciated by the trades named. But apart from handle, tlu-ro is also the question of colour, winch is well worth considering. Kvery practical wcolman knows that colour is an important asset in a clip of wool, and none more so than in lambs'. We. do not know how far it is possible to class lambs, but we have often thought when we have seen strong 'haired lambs' mixed with that were finer, that if the former could havo been remand it would easily havo put Id. to 2d. upon tho finer descriptions. Lambs' wool is very useful for mixing with adulterants in the shapa of cotton, mungo, or shoddy, and here Hie springy nature of the fibre is seen at its best. We need hardly tell readers that this is a very common practice, and is largely done every da.V in the West Riding at hundred's of mills. When lambs' are used for blending purposes! and the cloths .como to be milled"'ind finished, the wool fibre in the piece rises to tho top, and, as it were, conquers tlio cotton -and shoddy, causing the piece to present an annearance more like an all-wool fabric. Many manufacturers of medium class fabrics arc prejudiced in favour of lambs' wool, and where a good effect and a full handling fabric is wanted, there is nothing to beat Woollen Trade Slowing Down. It Is more tlian ever patent'that wholesale fabric buyers have now come, to close grips with tho inevitable. They havo been confronted during tho past month with the fact that they will have to pav sensibly increased values compared with twelve months ago, and tho prices named are such that they are not being as freely paid as expected. A real struggle is taking place between the producsr and consumer, and the present spell of quietness is due to wholesale buyers refusing to plaec further contracts in anticipation of prospective needs. It is generally recognised that no advantage is to bo gained by buying largely on forward account, and that it is policy tc go from luvnd to mouth. The industry has n!«o reached the period' of the year known as between seasons, and this alsois emphasising the present period of inactivity There is a general slowing down m the movement of all textile commodities, but at tlio foundation the situation appoers to bo sound, and although Blight concessions can bo obtained where actual business t3 plticwl, tho way Lnglisli *.\ools aro moving shows that many havo confidence in. tho future.