THE GROWTH OF WOOL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1026, 23 March 1894, Page 3

THE GROWTH OF WOOL.

In these times of agricultural depression it behoves every farmer to make the most of everything which Fie produces, and this cannot be done unless special care and trouble is taken. It has often atruck me that a very great many of our agriculturists either do not understand, or else wilfully neglecfc, those things which favor the growth of wool. Years ago, when wool was raak--2s 6d per lb, even the worst samples sold at a paying price. Now, owing to the vast supplies which come from our colonies, things are different, lid per lb being an exceedingly good price to get.

Wool is made up of a great number of cells, each fibre having a bulbous kind of root from which new cells are - constantly being formed. Each lot of cells pushes towards the preceeding ones, and this constitutes the growth of

wool

Wool is not a smooth hollow sheath, but its outside covering is made up of a number of scales, each of which points outwards ; but in ' matted ' fleeces the fibres are very much mixed up. The scales interlock, and from the • wavy nature of the fibres they wrap round each other, and so deteriorate from the value of the wool for felting purposes.

The wool is softened, and the outer scales are protected from injury by a quality of fytty matter taken from the skin, called the yolk. The presence of this yolk determines to a great extent the value of the wool. In the Merino, for instance, it constitutes 33 per cent.

of the weight of the fleece.

The amount of curves in the wool is to a great extent governed by finnessof fibre, and this makes it the more valuable for felting.

Now, for the delicate structure of the wool, it is very evident the better the sheep is cared for, and the better its surroundings, the better will the wool be. The finest samples are obtained on good land, where** the sheep are kept clean, and in a constantly improving state ; but even on the worst of land it is possible to turn out good (even if coarse) samples of wool by making up tor the poor land in box feeding, by dipping two or three times to get rid of the insects, and, in short, caring for the sheep well in every way ; the result will be that not only will a higher price be realised for the fleece, but the earcas itself will bejn a better state.

If the sheep suffer, so does the wool, and whilst a temporary break in the condition of the flock can be made up, the wealfriess in the fibre which it has caused can never be regained.

The finest British wools are produced by the various Down or shovtwool breeds, the wool of the hill breeds being of necessity the coarsest.

There is much diversity of opinion as to the advisability of washing the sheep before shearing. I can only* say this, that each man had better please himself ; if he thinks that the loss of , weight in washing is more than com pensated for by the extra price obtained it would be wiser to wash his flock, and if the price obtainable does "'" not compensate for so doing, it would be best to shear without washing. Still, I cannot help thinking that a washed fleece will pay better than an, unwashed one.

Wool paid years ago ; wool will pay now, but only with proper management, and a thorough knowledge of those circumstances which are conducive to the well-being of our woolly friends. — F. F. Rootham, in the Agricultural Gazette.