Correspondence.

Press, Volume XIV, Issue 1825, 17 February 1869, Page 3

Correspondence.

„ TO T^EDITOBpE.^HEPBESS. ': • Slß,—l notice, an extrabt, headed ".A.New. the "Nelson Colnaift ) \' feb. 3, on the subject of washing wool; sheep's back on the run of Dr in. your columns of this morning's J®"!!, answer© it not in my humble opinion taJeukted to mislead, I should let it pass by Permit mc to quote the article in have before us a sample of wool washed on 4he sheep's back; it is pure and write as ihe driven enow • soft and flexible, th&*Btapie' draws out in silvery thready; w^h it is fit to go at once to : the Bpaalogmill, and undergo the first operation Without former preparation **, No mention a asada as* to whether it was fit for combing 0? Nothing purposes; if the former, I presume ta&t every particle of sand, dirt, and grease is e *&ysgf which is absolutely neces■W 'u*the latter, then it is not absolutely fiseessary to cleanse the wool thoroughly for w* entire .process of manufacturing woollen «B*as; but before the pieces undergo the and finishing process, it is absolutely Ess &B**r ; to cleanse thoroughly by a tcouring P*o®s» with .a liquid mixture of mine and a *S|*dat ikmd of soft soap, so that you aeebotb - and artificial greasy substances g"*t be entirely got rid of in both oases «5» the goods are fit for the tailor and dreßSI* qtte|e again—«• In the next 1 place, the JM befog thoroughly cleansed before it is **9S"O from the sheep's back, is preserved in jas fleece compact and whole, and is not $8EggJn its fibres in the manner which is r**™ble whence ffeece in grease has to be after shearing." This of itself adds to the value of wool washed on ".*» compared with that of wool fleecef V,; - _J? v ffee minded man would attempt to, before it is properly M w&ti' ■*****» the several sorts may bo scoured with

perfect safety to the fibre ; therefore the fore- ! going sentence" falls entirely to' the ground, except for editorial i Again—" Wool in the grease is worth about 8d per lb ; washed by the new process it is worth ls6d to 2a," This may be an exceptional clip or "sample" picked out. The oalclatione in figures look very pretty in print, but they would not bear the washing process necessary to prepare wool for *' combing" purposes ; for " clothing" they would show a better front. , v "Now, Sir, I think I have said enough to convince your woolgrowing readers that the extract is calculated to mislead. I may at some future time communicate to you in general terms what I know of combing artd clothing wools. As to whether it is a paying speculation to have wool washed or scoured in the country where it is grdwn there can be but one opinion, since there are many obvious points of saving and very few indeed of losing. I ; would remark th ; conclusion that to scour fit for 1 combing purposes on the sheep's back would be fatal to the life of the animal. I found xny remarks on' fifteen yeara* expeperience in the manufacturing districts of Leeds and Bradford, and for proof of my remarks I could refer to men of longer experience than myself who are; now living in Canterbury. i ■■- ■ -'v-.-Yossr. February 16,1869. ;