Wool Standards

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 156, 17 May 1909, Page 4

Wool Standards

Crossbred wools have very wisely been divided into three broad descriptions, namely, fine, medium, and coarse. In other woids, this signifies the spinning capacity of the wool, that being the fundamental basis of all wool, no matter whether merino or crossbred* In the case of coarse descriptions, these arc usually known as 36' a, 40's, and 44's, while anything below 36'8 are known as very coarse, the term "low" or "very strong" being employed in describing them. During the last ten years the pr.Kiu' tion of coarse crossbreds has gro-.vr: . ; "

tremendously that -lo'h quality w<",\.have now become a ?tawiard to quote from, and generally speaking are taken Ui represent the big bulk of Loar^

crossberds, and are quoted every day I in the year on the markets of the j world. The?" really are the product of the Lincoln. Leicester, anJ Romney Marsh cross, though the latter pro- ; duces more at JO's quality than the j two former. It \wjH be most inter- j esling if, on one of the big New Zea- | land station managers would take ; the trouble next shearing to compile a '■ set of samples resulting from the first and all the succeeding crosses with the merino and mutton sires. I have ; never yet seen or heard tell what quality is produced, say, by the second, third and fourth crosses from the merino, and such a set of samples would . be highly interesting and instructive ! tojthe wool world. We all know that \ the first cross of the mutton sire with i the merino'gives us the half bred. The next cross Ton the half bred "ewe will i -■ ■ i give us a coarser crossbred wool, j while the succeeding crosses on that i progeny will produce a still stornger j fleece. !

Tuberculosis in fowls is still more prevalent than is desirable. In view of the absence of any legal control of the disease it is impossible to prevent its spread, and as there is no inspection whatever of poultry f either for local consumption or for export, it is impossible to form an estimate of its

real extent. Cases only come under observation when a mortality or sickness is reported by an owner, and this occurs periodically. Usually it may be presumed that the owner, when appraised of the existence of the disease and its nature, clears out his stock, and so assists in the spread. Tuberculosis is a disease that undoubtedly requires for its effectual control to be attacked in all its phases and manifestations, whatever may be the species of animal affected —human, bovine, porcine or avian.

If roots and ensilage improve the health of animals, and cheapen the cost of food, as claimed by agricultural experts, they will do the same things for fowls. Now that feed stuffs are so high in price, it is too expensive to feed grain exclusively. A quart of cornmeal added to half a peck of turnips will provide a better meal than can be procured from either the cornmeal or the turnips if either are fed alone. It is the mixed food, the combination of various elements, that enables the hen to provide the different substances which make up the egg. Lime, phosphates, nitrogen, magnesia, and even water, are elements that are absolutely essential, and many foods contain an excess of some kinds and a deficiency of another.- When a mixed food is given, there is a partial balance of the needed elements, and the several varieties assist in digesting each other, thereby avoiding waste of undigested food. Finely chopped ensilage, lucerne, potatoes, turnips, carrots, beets, or any succulent bulky food served with a mixture of ground grain, will provide the hens with a large supply of egg elements, and entail less for food than when the hens are compelled to subsist entirely on grain. The roost also is very materially reduced.