WHAT GOOD WOOL IS.

Patea Mail, 4 March 1882, Page 3

WHAT GOOD WOOL IS.

Ifc is highly desirable that the woolgrower should know the,important points about a profitable fibre, so as to breed towards uniformity, and gradually improve the character of his flock. If we consider the needed qualities in a good merino combing wool, we shall find them nearly the same the world over. These essentials to a profitable and high-priced article are about as follows ; Fineness of fibre ; length of fibre : softness of fibre ; elasticity of fibre; color and lustre of fibre. The best fibre as regards the first requirement named, measures under the microscope but 1-1227 th of an inch in diameter, when unwashed; and l-HOSth of an inch when washed. The fibre should be from 2\ to Scinches in length. The elasticity and softness should be great. Clothes made of poor, non-elastic wool soon get out of shape. Combing wools should separate like a skein of silk, so that there is less w T aste in manufacture. The color should be bright, clear, and lustrous, but light, so as to receive the most delicate dyes. The very best wools will take dyes as well as silk does.

If a wool-grower proposes to produce these best grades of wool, he must keep his flock in a region free from burrs and thorns and clinging seeds. Annoying insects such as ticks, if numerous, irritate the animal and destroy the silkinoss of the wool. The use of a good sheep dip prevents this trouble. Keeping sheep in too dry a region, injures the yolk of the wool. The yolk is a soap-like material which is produced by glands to nourish the wool. It is composed of animal oils and potash. The finest wools contain the greatest percentage of this substance. It is the best known substance for washing or scouring wools. Wools of Southdown and Leicestershire sheep contains twenty per cent. yWljjfr- the best merino fleeces contain from forty to seventy-fivo per cent, in weight of this substance.