NEW ZEALAND WOOL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 408, 3 September 1866, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND WOOL.

(From tho Mari lane Express.) Wool, is undoubtedly one of the most imprtant productions of New Zealand, and its value in exports is only second in annual amount to that of gold. Wo are glad to perceive from the report of the jurors at the New Zealand Inter-national Ex'Jjibition, held last year, that the subject of wool--s)roduction, and especially of long-wools, isreceivng the special attention of the colonists. Through the exertions of the Exhibition Committee, seconded most heartily by wool-growers from all parts of the colony, a collection of specimens was shown, which was undoubtedly one of the most valuable features of jhe exhibition. The exhibitors of wool numbered forty, many of whom furnished a number of specimens of the various varieties of wool. The exhibits comprised every description of wool cultivated in the colony, and thus illustrated at one view the progress and improvement that have been made in this important branch of colonial production. The principal provinces of New Zealand represented. From the number of exhibits of long wool, or of wool from crosses of Jong-wcolled animals, the cultivation of wool for combing purposes is evidently growing more into favor; and, judging from the excellent quality and great weight of the samples shown, this branch of wool-growing will doubtless become an extensive and profitable one. Of late years the demand for combing wools has vastly increased, and is apparently limited only by the supply, which is not equal at present to the wants of the British manufacturers. The exhibits of fine wool were not so numerous as might havo been expected ; but some were of superlative excellence, both as to quality and length. The evidences of attention in the matter of careful breeding were not wanting, and the quality of the merino wools was, as a whole, equal to anything the jury had ever witnessed. In ISSI there were but 233/100 sheep iu the possession of Europeans in Now Zealand ; in 1853 the number had increased to 1,523,316 ; and in ISG4, there were close upon 5,000,000 in the nine provinces. Of these there were about 1,500,000 in each of the two provinces of Canterbury and Otago. In 1855 the exports of wool from New Zealand were 1,772,3-M Tlis., valued at £03,101, nud in 1564,16,671,666 lbs., valued at £1,070,997. In the first six months of 18 ! ‘5 tbc cxrnrts were 17,995,0-13 lbs,, valued at £1,009,716. It has been a long-standing complaint with English manufacturers that the New Zealand wool is pout home iu a dirty condition. Owing to this defect in preparation, the New Zealand wools, although luily equal, and iu many instances sunorior, to the Australian iu quality, have- not commanded so high a price as they would hare dons if greater pains had been taken iu washing the gheap. This fact has been often and constantly impressed on the New Zealand wool-growers, and v.iUiin the last year or two c great improvement has taken place iu this respect. The plentiful (supply of the vuiv&fc water width abounds in every district of New Zealand makes it a matter of surprise that the very necessary ope:-don of washing has been so much n glee'.eu, or at least attended to in a very indifferent wry. The difference discernible in the cleanliness of the wool from different stations shows that many of the wool-producers may yet with advantage pay greater attention to the subject of washing. The apparent high price obtained for some of the wool exhibited is attributable not so much to the extra quality of the wool as to its cleanliness. It stands to reason that a manuiacturer will give more for wool that js clean than for ill-conditioned wool. The jurors give tlieir opinion that it is a mistake on the part of the colonial scourers to attempt the production of a very high color, to the sacrifice of some of the piost important essentials of the wool. Tho point to be arrived at should be to produce a clean wellwashed wool, but still retaining tho natural character of the wool.

Well washing tho sheep before shearing seems amply sufficient for all purposes until the wool peaches the Lands of the manufacturers. When scouring is resorted to, it is of paramount imp rtance, especially u ith combing wool, that the staple should be kept free and open, and not felted pr matted together. This is is a very serious evil, and one that entails loss on tho grower by the reduced prices ha can obtain for such wool. Of the English long-wools introduced into Sew Zealand, the Lincoln, Leicester, Cotswold, aud Romney Marsh may be considered as tho best known types, to which may bo added, as a sort of intermediate class, the Cheviot. The Lincoln is generally accepted ns tho standard typo of the coarser wools suitable for combing purposes. It is a class of wool to the production of which the soil and climate of New Zealand are very suitable. Jin fact it may bo asserted as a rule that the longwoolied sheep of Great Britain improve with the phange ; the length of tlic wool is increased, and ull its valuable properties preserved, owing doubtjess to the genial climate and the absence of exposure to the extremes of an English temperature. {Scarcely second in repute as a combing wool is the Leicester. Of all the Icng-wcolled sheep this has received the most attention in New Zealand, and the success which has attended tho efforts to introduce its production in the colony affords every encouragement to tho promoters, and there can bs no doubt that in a few years the growth of flic Leicester wool will bo largely prosecuted. The Leicester appears to be the favorite breed pf the Auckland sheep-farmers, nearly all tho exhibits from that province consisting of wool of this plass. Of pure Leicesters there were many specimens from almost every province, and in each instance the exhibits wore highly satisfactory. The Leicester is valuable as a cross with the shorter pnd liner wooiled sheep, examples of which were phowu from Otago. The Cotswold appears to be quite as much in favor tvitb tho New Zealand breeders as the Leicester, 1 and probably its habits and character are jnore generally adapted to the climate of the Middle Island and the mountain pastures of the colony fhan any other long-wooled sheep. The value of fliis breed as a press with cither Leicester or shortfrooled sheep cannot be to much spoken of, and the favor in which crosses with the Cotswold are Jieid is a sufficient proof of their excellence. Thu Cptfty&a-MpnPP undoubtedly possesses the most fajpa’ble qualities, Tlje best features of the resf ggtj?B bfeefis art in % most remark-

able degree, tho result being a long clean combing wool, equal in length to the Cotswold, and still preserving the extreme fineness of Merino.

There can be no doubt that wool of this description of cross deserves attention of New Zealand breeders, and that its production would be attended with profit. The Romney Marsh has been introduced into New Zealand with great success, both with regard to tho improvement of tho wool and crosses with close-woolled sheep. The shortwoolled English sheep in New Zealand are the Southdown and the Shropshire Down, Some breeders have crossed the Southdown with the Merino, and with cross-bred Romney Marsh and Merino. The Merino is the most valuable and important breed cultivated in New Zealand, and of sheep of this class the flocks of the colony are chiefly composed. The Merino wool has become finer and softer in Australia, and in New Zealand the length of the staple and weight of fleeces have been increased, without any deterioration in the quality of the wool. The German Merinos have also been cultivated with success in the Australian colonies, judicious crosses with which have materially improved tho character of the wool of the Spanish Merino.

The Merinos adapt .themselves easily to every change of climate, and thrive, and retain with common care all their fineness of wool under a burning tropical sun and in cold mountain ranges. Foremost amongst the breeders and importers of pure-blooded Merinos of New Zealand stands Mr Rich. The celebrated Mount Eden flock of this breeder enjoys a most extraordinary and well-de-served popularity throughout the Australian colonics. The fleeces exhibited by Hr Rich prove what can bo accomplished by scientific culture. The great weight of some of these Merino fleeces isastonishing—2llb., 161 b., 201 b., 151 b., 10*1 b.,and 7*lb., being the weight of one year's growth fleeces in Mr Rich’s exhibits. When we consider that with this groat weight of wool is combined tho utmost fineness of fibre of the Spanish Merino, tho great value of Air iiich’s breed becomes at once so apparent as to need no further comment. So much has Mr Rich improved this original blood, that some of his rams have been exported to Europe, When his father was on a visit to Europe for the purpose of inspecting the finest flocks on the Continent, he showed some samples of his Mount Helen wool to Baron Damier, superintendent of the Imperial French Merino flock at Ilambouilk-t ; and tho Baron was so struck with, tho superiority of this wool, that ho requested Mr Rich to send'hhn a few cl his rams, in order to improve even the famous “ Rmnbonillet ” fleck.

Tho New Zealand sheep-runs have been stocked clue fly with tho Australian-Merino variety, i:n proved through the importation cf pure 3axonMerino rams from Germany. Although there is every reason for believing that the growth of iougwcolled will be largely increased, the Merino will always occupy the chief position in tho flocks of New Zealand. The excellence of tho Merino consists in tho unexampled fineness and in felting property of its wool, which in fineness and ia the number of serrations and curves exceed that of any other sheep the world produces.