THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1907. NEW ZEALAND CROSSBRED WOOL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8446, 21 May 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1907. NEW ZEALAND CROSSBRED WOOL.

A hint that is of importance to woolgrowers, and particularly to those I who own crossbred flocks, is given in a recent letter from the Bradford correspondent of the Weekly Press. The writer points out that the general opinion among the Home buyers is that this year's New Zealand clip is shorter, more "stumpy," and finer grown than that of the year before, and that this increasing fineness has been more and more noticeable during the last few years. "Clips could be named," he says, "which are known for producing a really excellent style of 40's prepared combing wool, but there .is a unanimous verdict that this season the big weight of the wool is running to 44's quality. This means that the staple is not so long, and there is a decided diminution in lustre. The trade that is done in 40's crossbred wools demands a big supply, and notwithstanding large quantities which are at present upon the market, users are in no sense very well covered." At the recent series of London sales, wools of 44's to 50's quality were very plentiful, the result being that many clips suffered a decline of a halfpenny per lb. A few years ago, the cry was for more fine wool, and the prices paid for halfb\'ed wool induced all who could do so to go in for halfbreds, and keep as near as possible to the quality of the wool that the first cross between the longwool and merino produces. Fine halfbred wool represents 50's quality in tops, strong

halfbred and fine threequarter-bred 44's, and ordinary threequarter-bred, or fairly strong crossbred, 40's quality. Now it seems as if breeders were going too far 4 in this direction, and that a stronger wool is required. The complaint regarding the shorter, "stumpy" staple is more than likely due to the increased use of Down rams during the: past few years. It is, of course, largely a question of which pays the grower best, taking weight of clip and price into consideration. A year or two ago halfbred wool no doubt paid the best, but now threequarter-bred and fine crossbred, with the greater weight of fleece, is returning as much to the grower. There is evidence, however, that sheepbreeders have already anticipated the demands of the Home wool buyers.