THE FALL IN WOOL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9151, 21 May 1908, Page 7

THE FALL IN WOOL.

A PROBABLE CAUSE. DETERIORATION OF CROSSBRED. A correspondent of the New Zealand Herald writes: —As the hulk of the wool grown in the Dominion is of the-crossbred description, it is most unfortunate that prices for it are ruling so low in the London market, the fall 'being estimated at from £4 to £5 por bale. This spells a very great diminution in the spending power of the sheep farmer, which must have a far-reachmg effect on our prosperity. Many farmers ask the question, “What has caused such a great drop in prices?” In this article I do not prpocse tn discuss the problem in all its hearings, but will take one phase only, which may have contributed towards low values, and this is the deterioration of New Zealand crossbred wool.

It is well to remember that the term crossbred, as applied to our wools, signifies qualities ranging from as low as 82 5 s to as high as 58’s, the product of Lincoln, Leicester, Romney Marsh, and the various crosses that have come frem matiug the several breeds together. It was till about the early eighties that pastoralists turned their attention to breeding crossbred sheep, the first step being to use lougwcol rams on merino ewes. Later on various other intermixtures took place. The result of this was the production of a longstapled wool of splendid lustre, which soon became famous, realising high prices in the English market. It was much sought after by manufacturers of textile fabrics, aud supplanted the coarser wools of the British Isles. For many years these wools held their ground, aud varied very little in character, but during the last two oi- three seasous there has been a change, aud complaints have been only too numerous over the sliortstapled crossbreds from New Zealand. Manufacturers find it is more fit for carding than combing, and term it stumpy. In addition to this defect it is deficient in lustre. In good crossbred wool of 4.o’s grade length and brightness are of special value, aud yet these ve. y qualities are sadly lacking in a very large proportion of the higher grades. Those persons who have followed the trend of cross-breeding during recent years cannot but have noticed the very large number of Romney Marsh rams that have been used in crossing to the discarding of the Lincoln and Leicester sires ; and to this change iu a very great degree may be set down the falling off iu quality, so far as length and lustre is concerned, in New Zealand crossbred wools. It is a characteristic of Romney Marsh sheep that the wool is much shorter than either the Lincoln or Leicester, and lacks the silvery lustre. It is designed demi-lustre in the trade. The Romney Marsh is a sheep that has many valuable points, aud it has come largely into fashion, as it is asserted that the cross gives robustness of constitution to other less hardy breeds, and in producing medium crossbred, ranging in qualities from,“say, 46’s to4S , s, this sheep is a very valuable animal. But in 36’s to 40’s qualities, the sheepbreeder should think more than twice if he desires long stapled bright wool before using Romney Marsh sires. There is nothing more to be desired or more valuable than length of staple or lustre, from a manufacturer’s standpoint, in qualities from 86’s to 40’s, and it is regarding these particular classes that complaints have been made from Bradford aud other manufacturing centres that they have become short and dull in appearance. If we direct our attention to the Argentine, it will be noted that the flock-masters there are on our track, aud are growing crossbred wools which may supplant ours in the markets of the world. Au indication of this was seen at a sale of River Plate wool (new clip) at Liverpool last December, when it was remarked how very bright and long-stapled it was, aud in consequence it brought full market rates. I cannot but think that the time has come in New Zealand when sheepbreeders will have to turn their attention to a more scientific mode of breeding and treating their flocks if crossbred wools are to keep on top. It is by no means advocated Diat coarse (or low) crossbred 28’s to 88’s should be grown. There is perhaps too much of it already, but’the wool that the Bradford manufacturers yearns for is a good, long-stapled 40’s quality, bright, and of good lustre, and New is said by experts to be a country highly suitable for the growth of the higher grades of crossbred, wools. _ A sheep that willfproduce such a desirable class of "wool is not incompatible with a good-carcased auimal_ for freezing, and would fill the bill as an all-purpose sheep, aud ba profitable to the breeder ou that account.