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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 13, 26 September 1861, Page 2

Important to Wool Growers. —We copy the following from the Few Zealand Gazette of Saturday, and commend it to the attention of our wool growers:— the chamber of commerce foe the worsted DISTRICT. Bradford, Yorkshire, February 21, 1861. Address of the Wool Supply Association of the Bradford and Halifax Chamber of Commerce to all parties interested in the growth of Colonial and other Foreign Wools The increase in the Worsted Trade of Great Britain has been very considerable during the last few years ; and its further developement has been checked only by the difficulty of meeting with an adequate supply of long wool. To meet this condition of things, and in order if possible to increase the supply, the Wool Association is desirous of disseminating information in the wool growing districts. The increase in the imports of foreign wool during the same period has been very large ; but these supplies were almost exclusively of a nature to adapt them to the woollen rather than to (he worsted manufacture. Those interested in the latter branch of industry are anxious to stimulate the growth of wools suitable to their wants. The qualities they require give to the wool a higher marketable value for all purposes of manufacture, and are, therefore well deserving the attention of growers, collectors, and shippers of wool. The wool (the increase of which they desire to promote) should have a staple from four to seven inches long, according to its fineness, and should, as far as posible, be uniform in quality throughout its whole length, bright and lustrous in appearance or soft and kind to the touch, of good spinning properties, free from burrs and other vegetable fibre. It should also be well washed before it is clipped, or where this is not practicable, care should be taken that it be not cot ted or felted in drying. It is most desirable to retain the whole natural length of the staple by only clipping the lambs or sheep once during the season's growth, unless local causes render it absolutely necessary to do so oftener. 11 is also very desirable that a proper classification of wool should be made in packing, and that the packing should be thoroughly trustworthy and fair. An improvement is already manifested in the wool of some countries, and the association believe that it might be made general if proper care were taken in the selection of breeding sheep, particularly of tne rams, and, where necessarv, by the introduction of new blood. The flocks should as much as possible, be pastured upon succulent grasses, similar to those grown in Great Britain. The destructive effects of drought or cold, or other climatic causes, which check the growth of the grasses, by depriving the sheep of their necessary supp’y of food, and rendering the staple tender, ought to be prevented by a constant supply of food throughout the whole year. The Wool Supply Association will be happy to answer any inquiries, and

give any information that foreign correspondents may require in their efforts to increase the supply and improve the quality of their wools, and to fonder any assistance in their power to facilitate the export of breeding sheep suitable for crossing and improving the inferior foreign breeds. Already ten rams have been sent to India by this association, from which the best results are expected. Tlie Wool Association offer their gratuitous services to parties abroad desirous of purchasing rams for exportation, or in any other manner to promote the views expressed in their observations.

The Bradford Chamber of Commerce append to this address remarks upon every description of /Wool hitherto sent to England. Regarding New Zealand and Australian wools the following observations are made: —“ New Zealand.—Large supplies of this Wool have already come to England, and we believe the country is peculiarly adapted to produce the long combing wools required, from its soil and climate, and an unlimited market is open here for such wools. “Australia.—The wools from this colony form a large article of export. They are generally of a finei character than those of the other countries referred to, and for certain purposes are exceeding valuable.”