REVIEW OF THE WOOL TRADE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2493, 3 April 1882, Page 4

REVIEW OF THE WOOL TRADE.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agenoy Co., Limited, London, publish the following circular under date February 10th, 1882, on the subject of wool growing in the colonies, whioh will be of value to many of our readers:—

1, Queen Victoria street, Mansion Houte, London, 8.C., 10th February, 1882.

In order that our numerous clientele of oolonial woolgrowers and shippers may possess in a condensed form the special oomments which from time to time it has been found necessary to make regarding their consignment! to this market, we have considered it desirable in the present ciroular to invite their attention to the following points, whioh may prove useful in the preparation and shipment of their wools.

1. Breed of Sheep and Class of Wool —The diffdrenoes of climate and soil which prevail throughout the Australian colonies and New Zealand of necessity involve a variety of breed in the sheep and class of wool. Upon the country and its proximity to market will depend the breed of sheep and growth of wool. Where the olimate is sufficiently cool and the soil sufficiently rich to depasture either crossbred or kindred types of sheep, and where proximity to suitable markets for fat stock enables the grower to obtain a fair return for the carcase, it will doubtless provo to be for his interest to rear either crossbred sheep or those still more closely approximating to the flocks of Great Britain. In doing this, however, care should be taken to prevent any undue coarseness of staple in the wool, as the coarser the staple the more- does it enter into direct competition with wools of domestic growth. On the other hand, where the climate and soil are found to be adapted to the growth of merino sound in staple and sufficiently long for combing purposes, growers will do well to refrain from attempting to alter the cbaraoter of their flocks by the introduction of coarse-woollod sheep. Their efforts ought rather to be directed towards maintaining the distinctive merino character in their flocks. These remarkß of course do not apply to those distriots of New South, Wales and Queensland whero fine clothing wools form aj marked feature. For special pnrposes these will continue as heretofore to command a market if well grown and free from fault.

2. Washing and Scouring.—While the question of shipping in a washed or greasy condition must rest with the grower according to the facilities which he possesses for the satisfactory " getticg-up " of his wool, it may be said generally that if washing with soap be resorted to, care should be taken not to introduce. into the process any soda or crude alkali, which, in conjunction with hot water, at a temperature of from 100 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, would render the wool at all harsh to the touoh or interfere with its retaining what may be termed the inherent "sparkling yolk." If simply cold water bo used, oare must also be taken not to allow too great an interval to elapse between washing and shearing. If attention be not paid to this important particular, tho yolk of the wool is apt to become " set," and when inspected before sale in this market it presents the appearance of being only partially washed. Such partial washing as is obtained by merely swimming sheep through a river or creek is likewise to be deprecated. Equally injurious to any cleanly washed sheep is the permission to travel them over dusty country between the sheep wash and tbe wool shed, as dust tipped fleeces, even although the roots be fairly clean, are deteriorated in value. If the flockmaster decide to shear his sheep in the grease, like care ought to be taken to separate carefully the looks and pieces from the fleece, as would be done in the case of washed flocks. The greasy locks and pieces, when light in condition, may frequently with advantage bs scoured locally, provided tbe necessary appliances for doing so effectively exist. It is not. however, desirable to treat greasy fleece wools similarly, as not only are the defects more apparentwhen scoured, but in the process the fibres, especially those of coarse wools, become interwoven, and give trouble in separation when dealt with for manufacturing purposes. To these general observations there most necessarily be exceptions, such for example, as in esses where, while there are no proper appliances for sheep washing, the cost of carriage to port of shipment and the heavy condition of the dip render it undesirable to forward it in the grease. In scouring wools, whether on sheep stations or at wool scouring establishments, care ought to be taken either not to use too hot water or to deprive the wool of all inherent "yolk." However olean " the scour," prior to being packed for shipment, the process can never

be so complete as to obviate the necessity for further treatment before the wool reaohee the manufacturers' hands. It is not therefore desirable to expunge all the "nature" from the fibre, as if this be done it has a tendency to become harsh to the touch. 3. Relative Merits of Sooured, Washed and Greasy "Wools.—lt having been shown under the preceding paragraph, that unless sheep washing can be dsne thoroughly, and unle'B scouring is rendered necessary by the inability to wash the sheep or by the condition of the wool and cost of transport to shipping ports, it is preferable to ship the fleece portion of any clip in the grease (save in the case of very superior flocks where appliances for thorough washing exist), the advantage to be gained by the adoption of this course becomes more apparent, if regoid be paid to the following circumstances attendant on the disposal of colonial wools in this market:—

(a.) The demand for greasy wool for shipment either to the European or American continent is greater and its area of competition is pro tanto increased. (b ) The probable rendemtnt or out-turn of clean wool can bo more oorreotly appraised. (a.) Save in the oase of superfine grade*, wool in this condition has a better basis for manufacturing purposes. (d.~) In the case of crossbred wools wherein certain varieties of quality are usually found, it is easier to separate and classify when these are shipped in the grease than when the admixture takes piece in a washed or scoured oondition. Prectioal evidence of the truth of these statements is found in the fact that during the paßt seven years there has been an increase of 16 per cent, in the quantity of greasy Australasian wool dißpoßed_ of in the London sale rooms, as compared with that in a washed or Booured oondition.

4. Lambswool—As to the propriety of shaaring lambs instead of allowing them to remain unshorn until they become hoggets, there may obviously exist considerable difference of opinion, and flaokmasters, In arriving at a oorrect conclusion on this subject, will naturally be guided by the exigencies of their runs and the peculiarity of eaoh season. Leaving, therefore, the question of shearing to be settled according to local requirements, it may be stated generally that lambs' wool ought as a rule to be shipped in the grease rather than in a washed or especially in a sooured condition. Where runs are infested with burrs, or where shearing has taken place after the shedding of grass seed, these defects are rendered more prominent by the process of washing or scouring. For the purposes for whioh lambs' wool is used, when in the grease it can be better worked, and it therefore oommands a relatively higher price. 5. Wool-shed Operations—(a.) Shearing— Second outs by shearers ought not to be allowed, as the staple is thereby injured, especially in combing wools. (2>) Bellies as well as pieces and locks ought to be kept separate from the remainder of the fleece, and, where the flock is sufficiently large to warrant the distinction, belly pieces may be packed separately from other pieces. (c) The fleece portion of black wool should be kept distinct from other fleece wool, and if the qua" tity be not sufficient to fill a bale, the bale can be divided and branded part black, tbe division line being carefully marked on the outside of the paok. {d) Broken flaeces and burryor seedy parts should be carefully separated from sound fleeces and those comparatively free from such defects.

(e) Classification. —The tendency towards too minute classification is very great, and except in the case of superfine wools or very large fljeks, the distinction betwoen combing and clothing in the case of merino wools, and between coarse and fine crossbred is all that, as a general rule, is needed, care being however taken that eaoh bale contains throughout wool of uniform description. Where it is needful to pack in one bale wool differing in quality or condition, care should be taken to have such bale described and branded as "mixed." Instead of. branding the bales combing and clothing, it may be found politio to distinguish qualities both on bales and in specifications by letters of the alphabet, A, B, V, &c. The reason for this is that much of the wool marked in the oolonial sheds as clothing is suitable for the use of foreign combers. They, however, when in search of combing wool naturally do not inspect bales branded and catalogued "olothing." Hence their competition for suoh wool, whioh they may have failed to inspect on its intrinsic merits, is lost.

(/) The fleeces after being carefully skirted, and after the removal of all (laggings and faulty parts, ought to be regularly folded or if needful rolled, but in no case should they ba tied with string or any substitute for game. The use of ties causes much trouble to manufacturers in extraction, while, if not extraoted, damage to their machinery may ensue. (ff.) Pressing and Dumping.—Side pressed bales, which are still ahipped from New South Wales and Queensland, should be discontinued as soon as it is practicable to do so. Wools received in such bales can never be shown to the same advantage as those received in bales packed from one end. The latter are likewise more compact in shape, and do not suffer so much by pressure on board ship. While in tbe process of dumping there is no irjury to the staple, it is unquestionably a disadvantage to have loosely pressed bales exposed to the severe pressure involved in dumping three bales together on board export vessels. When bales so dumped are shown for sale in the London wool warehouses, they are rendered so unsightly by the process that the competition of dealers—who are important faotors in tbe sale room—is practically lost. ManufaoI urers being alive to this position naturally regulate their bids accordingly, If great care be not taken that all scoured wool is thoroughly dry before being packed, and if the bales should' thereafter be dumped, the contents will on being opened in the wool warehouses here be so oaked, sodden, and stained, as not only to prevent satisfactory inspection, but distinctly to deteriorate value. If greasy wools be subjected to a like process much of the yolk is expressed and either lodges in the packs or escapes through evaporation. In either case tbe net weights of the bales are sensibly decreased.

6. Scoured Wool Boilers.—Allusion has been made under clause (/) of the preceding paragraph to the disadvantage attendant on the use of ties for the fleeces in the case of washed wools. Similar exception may be taken to the use of hemp on the rollers in the case of scoured wools. It is with much difficulty that hemp or any like extraneous substance can be separated from wool in a scoured condition, and notwithstanding all oare on the part of manufacturers, it has occasionally happened that the presence of such foreign material was only discovered when the cloth was put under process of dyeing. 7. Local Sales—With the yearly increasing competition exhibited in the colonial wool salerooms both of Australia and New Zealand, it is but reasonable to conclude that strenuous efforts will be exerted to augment the annual quantities to be dealt with looally. Accordingly in view of the more speedy returns which flookmasters seouro by such means they are naturally prone to sell in the colonies rather than to ship to this market. While they are manifestly bound to study what they believe to be to their own advantage, whether they may elect to sell or ship thoy will best consult their own interests by the adoption of an uniform praotioe over a "lustrum" or series of yoars. If they adopt the latter alternative of shipping they will find that their wools will meet here a more ready sale, if they have never been offered in any of the local markets than if they have there been first submitted to competition and ultimately shipped because the grower's ideas of values were not seoured.

8. Star Lots.—The large proportions to which tho colonial wool trade has of late years grown, rendered it necessary that spocial arrangements should be made in the London salerooms for the disposal of small lots or paroels, and for those which arrive in a damaged condition. Accordingly, all sound lots consisting of three bales and under, and all lots of damaged wool, being marked in the sale catalogue with an asterisk, are designated "star lots," and are sold after the disposal of the other lots of the catalogue. These as a rule enlist the competition of a distinct olass of buyers from those who bid for the leading lots. Ibis remark has a special bearing in the case of wools adapted for foreign requirements. Hence in the classification in the wool shed if too great minuteness be observed, it is done at the risk of bringing much within the star oategory which by less minute division might have found a place amongst the leading lots. In cases where star lots are unavoidable, constituents would do well to understand that they are Bubjeot to the disad rantages described above and must be sold accordingly.