NEW ZEALAND WOOL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1438, 25 September 1872, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND WOOL.

Messrs. J. T. Simes & Co., wool brokers, London, write as follows under date 16th July j The irregular packing of New Zealand wools is a feature that has been constantly commented on in our circulars and otherwise, and the present season's clip shows considerable increased tendency to the production of cross bred and pure English wools by New Zealand flock masters, but at the same time the classification of the fleeces for packing seems to be very insufficiently attended to, although rendered more requisite if cross-breeding is carried on. It is unnecessary for us to mention that the produce of merino ewes, tupped by one particular English-bred ram, will show a variety of wools so great as that almost every stage of quality and character will be produced between tbe two extremes of the parent sheep ; so arises the necessity for some little attention in classification for packing, wbich we think the following suggestions, if followed up, would accomplish. They will apply equally to either washed or greasy clips. First, let character be the consideration, and afterwards condition. Character, of course, means length and quality; and condition the waste from yolk or earth, burrs, seeds, motes, or other defects, from sickliness or otherwise: (it is as well to keep the hoggetts, ewes, wetheis, and rams packed distinctly and separately.) It the flock is small, or from any other cause a bale is part of one and part of another sort, let it be marked with a line outside where the division is; the description of every bale should be written on the outside as well as carefully noted in the shipping invoice. We may here mention what we have frequently recommended in various ways before, that the bales should be marked on one or both the ends, not on the sides. Now as to classification by character: Any short or stumpy-grown fleeces should be thrown out, and in cross-bred flocks we consider that about four classes should be made : -—(1) The fleeces showing the most of the English strain that there is in the flock; (2) those where tbe English strain prevails over the merino; (3) those in which the merino prevails over the English ; and (4) the more or less pure merino fleeces. In merino flocks (as before said, keeping hoggets, wethers, ewes, and rams separate) the shorter fleeces should be thrown out, the great point being to keep the lengthy well-grown fleeces unmixed with those of shorter and more stumpy growth and character, and first and second qualities may be made, but well-made distinction and useful and correct selection in this respect — i.e, as to quality in a pure merino flock —is difficult, and if not done well it is better not attempted at all. As to skirting, it is a matter that care should be taken about. We consider that 10 bales in every 100 of washed clips is quite a sufficient pro* portion ; we frequently find a good deal of the fleeces is taken off and made skirts or pieces of unnecessarily. In greasy clips a much less proportion of skirting is requisite. Then, as to condition, do not pack without any discrimination the bad wastey or inferior conditioned with the better washed (if washed at all,) less wastey and cleaner fleeces. Two divisions, that is, the cleaner from the dirtier, as to condition, we consider sufficient. By the general plan or system of classification thus put forward, we do not mean to advocate minute divisions of parcels, but one consideration bearing upon another, as here suggested, will result in putting the whole of a clip into regular form. We do not mean to say that each particular separate distinction (pointed out by the classer) which would arise out of the system we advise would require separate lotting for sale— as to this point, unless specially ordered to the contrary, we use our own discretion. We have endeavored to sketch out tbe various cardinal points of consideration, and these being borne in mind, the result will be the orderly and marketable arrangement of the clip. Bearing these foregoing directions in mind, we scarcely think it needs a professed wool sorter to put a flock up in bales in a presentably classified way, though some technical knowledge of the subject is very useful. A flockmaster himself could, we should think, and certainly ought to try, so to superintend his men at this work as to have it effectually carried out.