STAINS ON WOOL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19721, 11 December 1926, Page 23 (Supplement)

STAINS ON WOOL

SUCCESS IN REMOVAL A SECRET FORMULA. Quite recently the Agricultural Department asked the Mosgicl Woollen Company and Messrs. Ross and Glendining to report as to their experience in regard to wool for manufacture that was badly stained with brands. Those companies acted as requested. Their reports showed amongst other things that 4 per cent of the wool that comes out of the scouring machines has to be marked down in price in consequence of the staining, which has hitherto proved ineradicable. These reports were read by a Dunedin industrial chemist, who for the present ask£ that his name be not published. He thought it strange that so much wool should be wasted, seeing that there are so many good chemists in England and Germany. He interviewed the managing director of the local mills, who at once displayed keen interest in the matter and took him to the mills, where a bundle of the' worst stained greasy wool was picked for him to try with. The next day he took thd wool back and it was quite white. He was then given a parcel of scoured wool and the same day he removed the brands from it also. The manager of a leading wool agency was next seen and on being shown the results of the test ho expressed the belief that the chemist had struck a discovery worth a fortune.

The chemist was interviewed recently. He, of course, retains his discovery as his own secret. Ho is surprised at his own success and has not yet marie up his mind what step to take next. He says that he has also made a branding paint that will stand atmospheric conditions and yet be removable at the mills. It looks very like as if Now Zealand is about, to introduce to the wool world a benefit, the' value of which is almost incalculable.

VALUE OF PRODUCTS PLANT FOOD AND MINERALS Study of the composition of the ash of feeding stuffs shows that cereal products generally are low in calcium and high in phosphorus content, whereas fruits, vegetables, and particularly leguminous hays, are rich in calcium. Leguminous seeds, and protein-rich concentrates contain abundant supplies of phosphorus and arc relatively rich in calcium. A normal-balanced ration containing legume hay, cereals and pro-tein-rich foods is not likely under normal conditions to require supplemental additions of minerals except, for reasons too lengthy to state here, perhaps sodium chloride. Farm animals are not likely therefore to require much additional mineral substances to the diet, except possibly heavily dactating animals and pigs whose food naturally consists for the main part of cereal by-products. In cases of this kind the calcium is best fed in the form of chalk, the sodium and chloride in the form of common salt, and the phosphorus in the form of bone meal or in the form of substances containing excess of phosphorus. Fish meal and meat and bone meal are especially of value since they contain substances other than calcium and phosporus, which are essential for the maintenance of an adequate salt balance.

Unless the added minerals arc given in the form of a feeding stuff such as fish meal or meat, meal, it is best from a practical standpoint to allow the animals free choice by providing a mixture of the minerals in a separate trough to which the animals have free access at all times. It is impossible to give general recommendations as to the compounding of minerals salts with feeding stuffs, and for this reason no recommendations arc given in this article.

ROYAL SHOW SALES OFFERING OF CATTLE The following list of transactions at public auction in respect to cattle shown at the Auckland Royal Show are of interest:— Jerseys. —Account B. W. Cornwall, Bell Block, first prize yearling bull. Oakland’s K.C.8., T. Church, Te Rapa, 57gns; account G. and R. Hutchinson, Wharepapa, 2-year-old bull, Otterburn Goldflakc. J. O’Sullivan, Mercury .Bay, 37gns; account Mrs F. E. Norton, Waimauku, yearling bull, Lady’s Sea Lad of Lyndale, Mrs E. K. Buckingham, Afanagatawhiri, 36gns; account J. B. Tonar and Son, Northcote. yearling heifer, Burwood’s Xenia Alaiden, Ralpu Wyman, PapatoetOe, 39gns; account G. and R. Hutchinson, Vernon Xenia s Double Prim, T. Church, 38$gns. Alilking Shorthorns. —Account H. AV. Giles, Cambridge, yearling bull, Monovale Harvester, E. Wall, Hastings, 19gns; same vendor, yearling bull, Alonovale Hailstorm, A. Az Martin, Paparoa, 17gns. Fricsians.—Account J. McAnulty, Methven, champion bull, 4 years old, Champion Pietjo Lad, 50gns. Red Polls.—Account G. Witters, Gisborne. aged bull, Cabinet Afinister, J". Ambury, Raupo, 22igns. Hercfords. —Account J. AfcKonzie. Masterton, yearling bull, Gay Briton 12th, J. McAulay, North Auckland. 145gns; account same vendor, yearling bull, Gay Leo, G. Smith, Matakohe, 85gnS; account G. F. Moore, Kai Iwi, yearling bull, San Mauro, R. King, Te Puke, 42jgns. The first prixo yearling bull, Gipsy Lad, offered on account of G. F. Moore, was passed in at 165gns; the yearling bull Gay Briton 14th, on account of J. McKenzie, was passed at 120gns. The firet prize yearling Aberdeen Angus bull, offered on account of D. Allan, Wellington, was also passed in at 125gns.