WOOL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 115, 15 May 1863, Page 3

WOOL.

The following remarks from the pen of Professor Ran, one of the first authorities in Europe, on the subject of the weight of fleece and carcase of sheep is published in the Hohenheim weekly paper, a journal to a great extent devoted to matters connected with the cultivation of sheep. “ Generally the weight or abundance of wool is judged from the size of the carcase, as it is said that on a large body there is more room for wool plants to grow than on a small body. It is known, however, that where fineness of wool is the object desired, a different conclusion is arrived at, as, on the lOOlbs carcase of superelecta quality, only 11b 12ozs real pure wool is obtained. On the other hand, on a carcase of second quality, Slbs 12ozs are got out of the inferior quality of wool; or the greater the carcase the coarser the wool. It is expected that of two sheep which produce second quality of wool, the larger carcase will yield a greater weight of fleece than

the smaller; but is this the case ? It is not to be denied it is seen in individual cases ; but as a matter of calculation, as taken from the cross breed at Hohenheim, it is not so 5 for, be it known, the larger show a scanty, whilst the smaller an abundant crop of wool plants. The average weight of the carcase of a sheep in 1859 was 901bs and of fleece 3ibs. As the present race is bred not only for its carcase, but its wool (wool and flesh-bearing sheep), this question has become a vexed one. If you rear sheep which are much under an average weight, and wish to increase the carcase, then you take away or detract from the fleece, but if it be desired to have 4ft>s. of fleece and you breed for wool alone, keeping those animals only that yield the heaviest fleece then on the other hand you must have a small carcase. To sum up what has been said: Firstly, how great the difficulty is to combine large carcase and abundance of wool, for both material cannot be obtained together, but actually oppose each other. Secondly, it appears that the growth of wool is increased at the expense of carcase, just as the loss of sap in the growth of wool injures the breeding rams and ewes, so it appears at the same time that the increase of carcase lessens the growth of wool on the lean as well as the fat sheep. The experience of Weckherlin is, that by strong feeding wool does not increase; and Mr. Rhode, of Dena, who has made this a matter of study for many years, also states that instead of increase of wool resulting from strong feeding, the opposite is invariably the case ; that is to say, there is an increase in the length of the staple, but a decrease in weight and quality of wool: yet this increase is not proportionate to the amount of food taken. Thirdly, those who look to the produce of wool as their main object, will find it more to their advantage to have Merino sheep, with small and average sized carcase ; and those who desire to rear sheep with large carcase (flesh-bearing), must, as of natural consequence, expect a less quantity of wool. 5 ' —Otago Daily Times.