N.Z. WOOL.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1928, Page 1

N.Z. WOOL.

RESEARCH INTO PROPERTIES. WELLINGTON. Jan. 5. Now that research has commenced into the properties of New Zealand wools an interesting survey ol the aims of similar work conducted in Great Bit tain is issued by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. This work has been undertaken in the United Kingdom on an Empire basis, recognition being g iron to tile fact that in some parts of Hie Empire woo! is all-important, and that in others it is a by-product, and sold directly by tlie farmer himself. Thus there is: the problem of complete understanding between tlie farmer and purchaser —producer and consumer —which is complicated further by the laet that wool is something more than a saleable commodity ; it is the covering which is a protoctino to the sheep at all stages of life.

Classification of wools is sought to lie made by measurements which will yield results capable ol being used scientifically—tlie results must be interpreted to breeder and manulactiirei' and a scheme for wool improvement propounded. This scheme, it is an tieipated, will fall under two main head, ings, first improvement in breeding methods, anil second, improvement by changing the environment of the sheep.

Fleece characteristics which are of i importance are the average fineness I and its variance, length, and growth rate, density (the number of fibres per unit area), and the weight per unit area, the composition of the llceoe (the number of fibre types which appear in it), pigmentation, and the group characteristics of various fleeces (the formation of the wool staples)". When the various breeds of sheep are classified on this basis it is anticipated that the work will he of great value, and the immediate application of such a survey will he the fixing of a standard type of sheep at which to aim in any breed. Such a standard can he fixed only after complete examination of the sheep of the Dominion, taking account of all the various factors involved. It is emphasised that there will he little difficulty in obtaining improvement once a standard type is fixed ; the difficulty will be only in convincing the breeder ot what is the right type at which to aim. The fault of many suggestions in the past is that they have been based simply on manufacturing requirements and have ignored other important factors. The survey will also enable crossbreeding experiments in wool improicment to he anticipated with an inteliligent anticipation of the results winch may he achieved. Also, while the survey now in hand will be of considerable practical use it will enable further research to he commenced. I hi l research may be classified under two heads, the inheritance of fleece finalities. and the effect of environment on wool growth. Thus, the ..-results of climate, food, and castration on the wool of various breeds will be discoverable. Once fleece qualities have been defined and measured this further research need he limited only by the opportunities afforded for it.