OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 646, 25 October 1909, Page 11

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

THE WORUD'S;WOOLS-AND THEIH'QUALITY ;/,.':.:■ (Fro'm'biir' Special Correspondent.) = ■:-'y-.fi?i--\\y.. ■'-.■. VBrndford, September 10, 1909."; !.I am afraid that ninny pooplo havo bOII i vorylhazy.opinion of what Is', mount by qualit! In wool, in other .wordt, what is 40's, 50'~s, am 50' a.; :It ia most difficult lr.dcod to I make thi ivcrago sheep' farmor undorctand.Bay, 36's fron KV.ho knowing his. (look boat by tho deserip tlqn ouartorbrcd. halfbred, thrccquartcr-bred or; pure atook. .'.-.• All theso terms, havo. theii sorroapondlng: significance; in tho quality 10. wool,'.and,.it,would'holp matters considerably especially'at'; shearing, if overy shcop farmci and; pastoralist'understood tho.varied finenosi 6f;his: ilobk; . I don't caro whether a man bi jarrying, merinos' or'<crossbred*, his , flock, wil show somol difference in qnality, fleeces .varying as'much.as..ten : points of fineness in-that flock Por:.'iustaaco; J I havo, seen", sheep lali'bred ant depastured on tho I samo station that scaled b'otl BO's,. 64's, and 70'o'.'quality. ■ Neithor'. tho ownei nor his,"manager,:'ltnev('of:that faot until-il was pointed out. to them, both aliko being sat Isflod that tho shcop wore purobred merinos Exactly.'.but'at'shoaring It would havo helped that-pastoralist if ho could'-haVC-dcsignatcd all'the-fleece to their three respective, bins, say, of fineness, calling: tho '.first', flnb mor'ino; the second-bin. very'fine';-and the third bin, super Bne.- "It is'-qnito; an-; oasy-'matter, to do this If ; a - man '- once.gets a:■ clear knowledge of the rospectivo; qualities,, and' every .sheep -breeder should 'bo able, to ' define what quality, hio fleeces are., jl'was discussing this problem only this wook with' an old ciporionced : sorterHn Bradford, and many interesting'-points wore raised.,. Ho ..was..of .the opinion that a .man iad- to' be enthusiastic 'over, his job to become i really, competent sorter,'and that it needed a.' fair /amount of -experience'-for-.a-man to-, bo nble to'defino tho'varied qualities from 36's':to FO's. -i This oo'v'or3 a very '.wide', range, and. a man would - require a good many samples if Ihe Sad beforo him all tho standard makos of prossWeds and,merino3. -■/,] ..;:.' .■'.,.;.; ' ' ; .;l; i/BipiNa' DESOBIPTIOfis STANDARDISED^ it is' practically.- impossible to' give tho .'uninitiated sufflcient. data thereby ho would. ;be jbloto identify ' overy : breed of wool, but. toiay,l am'goihg to'make'tho'attempt to specify lore tho different qualities of leading deserip;ions, of sheep ' that' aro found both .in .England, tho colonies, and America. 'It would do >vcry wOolgrower real' good ,if ho would:get ;hom off -by.inoarJv rind.' overy- single .description )f woor.ißvcapablo'.of -being:;dealt .with' in a japento.-itsolf.- For it-must bo-.dearly-under-itood that overy placß of staple-differs in somo jhysical-.feaiuro!.to -another,. cvon,--,though.-.it nay ;havo originally' sprang from it. For.instance, the Lincoln breed of \ sheep.: has been responsible fdr'.produci2g'a;'very;frhitfnl ;and wrviccablo- class, of (wool, both\of•. a- halfbred, ;hree-qnarter-brdd, 'and f ull : growri. .-: crossbred, uid -in each, tho Lincoln blood will stand out vs sharp and as I well defined as a mountain leak,' only, -it-wants{eyes to sco it,':and a spirit ■o appreciate ,whatl.tbo original blood has done, )nce introduces what I.will call another strain ntoa flock of/sheep,'nnd it io tho work of a juarter of a century, to breed it thoroughly out fit over canibe. done.• I may,,be I venturing on ,oo:.'thih ico.ibnt 'I oin l only repeating: what ithers -havo said,- '■■ and-,what, is common pro>crty,Vnamely, thaU.thoro: Is -av cor.tain species >f vmerrdd'in Australia-in.wbich at one timo >r another Leicester blood: has been introduced, imV-.l' : havo- heard:.somo ; of tho best wool cxierts in the world:affirm that the big, strong, ihafty f.wools givo evidence -of -it to-day. Howiver, 'that- is not'my point..-Every cluss of wool trown • manifests'.-.its, own • peculiarities, >: and ,a. ilonrting Of 'two dlfferont. and distinct unecios las boeri'thd'mOana.'dfprovlding.the world with iorae veryV useful ;.wools tindeod. - Below' I: show ■oadors what"aroltho idifferpnt oualitics to bo lonnd. upon loading.'.breeds: of'., 'sheep :— ■. i:^: ';.^<C;~:./-:^-y '. •-:;• - : "''"' Quality.'. Harinos ;'; ~ V.-....;....;.;'.'...'.:.:...: , .'..»;'..'..r » ..'..., • 60's to 80's lolonial -haUbred.: V'-"---.'"--"--"'--'---""-'-- w ' s to M ' s lolonial .threo-qnartcribrcd.•";: :'. .46s to ; Ws 3olonial; crossbred''', ~;.',.'.'.■...•:.-.•.....;:.-..,■...'.." <0 s to Ws jincoln ■ hogs-. v;..:,:"..:a:...:;:.:.;.V'...»..'.'.'.'..'."..V16 s to W s iincoln woihors,-..,...,.,.,..;--'.,',.,-"-----.-""-". K's.to 36's Wttingham'-uhogs ■•.',;•.;.:...'..),.;..,..:.'.',.,.;....', 36's to 40 d' Jbtlingham wethors .;,,; , ;;i'.,\.::.:;..'..-.-.'.;.'... : .36's ■■ ■ :.■•> Jolcester h0g5",'..,;........v...'.:..i....'.:«.;.;..■..'..vw s to 44 B Joicester 'wethers l ■'■- 36's to,4o's .Vonsleydalc: tioss: ■■'■■--■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■. 36 ' 8 to.M's Yonsloydalo. wethers•■•-.■ :..'...-..V.......'..i. .'36's ■ v. •• '■'■ lovon greasy ,;...'...........;..:...."..'.....■.....- 36's to Ws forkshiro hogs: (average) ...;;...'......' 36's to,4o's forkshire -wothors (average);........,.,..., 36's '■. Sorth -hogs:' .■.;..i^{:'..C.."...».'.V....^i.;..i......-44's.to46's forth' 1 wethors 40's to 44's Irish hogs, super i., .'..'.............,... :,44's to.4s;s Irish .wethers, -super .-'.'.1...,. 40's to 44s Irish hogs,-.selected- ;...:..;...:.:...,.-•-— .40's to-44's Irish/ wethors,'-.-selected ..,..;,......r.. v ....,;.. 40 s ; Irijhlinountain'ii......";...,..:.-....'..".....!..'.". 36 s ..... Irish Ecotoh". ........■...;„'..'.'.;...;.:..'.,.......,..... 325: ' ... Selected .JC0nt:..teg51.>'..:'.i....,.....,......,,....-,.44'5.;t0,46's iclecte'd" Kcnt'.l'wethe'rs' 44 s lupor, Stafford liogs ;...'.v.',,~..vt.(.>i v ii;--'-.v, 44!?..,, -.' . iunerl Stafford . wethora;!'... -v..... ■ 40s-.. .-,- . lalfbred hog's count!ds)".V.:r.X- ;44's tb"46'a lalfbrod -wethors. (Mid;' counties) >;,. :40's to 44's •Torfollt' ha'.tbred -hogs .■,:.....'..'.'.Vi........-.'',44 , s- to «'s Norfolk . JiaUbred: woiners 5i..;....i.V;..... <0 « to 44 s 3ost Scotch'.hoft ..M».,..J5;...:,«;;!"-».^ ,S .' - ' ■'• 3c«t:Scotch ■woth^rs ! ',:;!.v'..."'i.»-.-i4'.:->"''/)« i . 'i Ihovlot :hogs,'l- to 46's Ihoviot wothersV;stir)cr s to 44 s Wotoh blaokfacwi<fiogs-.-,«i;.':.«;.~CT.' f ; : 32's - ' ■■■. icotch to 32s ieotoh-blaokfaced - salvedr>-.'.'.-M.'i.S.'.>r..v,V'Zß'B . ' • tonthfldjrn:"-,toja ......,.i.... : .ii'..'.i.i..H....iM... 60's to 66 s louthdown, owes '............,..•,.,,.. '■■.:■ ?lck. Shropshire-h0g3,;.,....;.,i.'......,;,..,i,-:. 46's,to 60[s ?lck Rhronshiro .wothers ....;...;........., 44's.to 46's Wiltshire :Down tegs .......n:.,:';...;..- ,v. 60s : TOtshiro 'Dnwn'wcthers .v..'.'...,...,...."..',. 46 s t0.41)s lainpshirp Down, I'toss .'...,..■..'....'.-.-.!.•.'...... 46sto 50s Hampshire'Dowr. v . wethers ..:.'...........'.... 46s- --^ Dorsot,--DOwn '.tcgs'..;.'.-.,.,.'..y..i:r.;.'T.'.,:....i..iT 50 n to 66 s iorset Down wethors .■......-.■ .:. -.46» .'' - Jiford Down tcgi^.i...;.......;.......;;...-."-;- 5 ?, 8 - '>„; ixford Down :wether5';...1....;:....•...■:.-....'.-,'.465.t0.50s Sasto'rn.'OOUnties Down. teg5'.1..;.;.... - .,.. '48's ' • 3astorn-Oounties-D.own-wethers;..,,,. 46's to 48si lonk. owes and '..wethors > ~ . .„....;iV.:;....1..-. 40's tb. 44's T01rh '.. ';...:.;...;.;.;.;;.:...;..v.:..:.:.,...v-...;.'.-o«a ;•-■;:. sadnoi-s. ;.-.\'.,.......;......;..'...'....;.'..i. '«> to £o's Sordwick:,cwo3;and wethers .........;...!. 33 s ,;. ' ■ As' already said, cthoro is. a: wide' rango .of mallties'.-to';t)b.ideo)t,:wlth,'and"it':neods a roan »'have soma .considerable oxperionco to, bo ablo So-define -at.'a!'.- easily, .what'cuality. wool'is irhen : it comes-into .his hands.-..An analysts, of she. above- particulars.. reveals ~ the .- following [acts: Tho ! bright, deep-grown' lnstro wools rangeprincipally, from 36'ato 40's. quality,'which are ?eon'in : the above 'list'from -Lincoln hogß-to Sforkshiro wethers.!■ .Then-wo Icomo- to , demi lustro wools,. which.rool'.y start.'M North h9gs and icomo down to.. Norfolk, -wothers, omitting tho Irish mountain and Scotch, which aro.really. the»product of tho Bcotch- blaekfaced. which is es3bntially-"ti .strongcarpet; wool. -: Theso cover from <o'sto 46's -quality.-.''. Then wo n como to tho ..Down' broods.,:.starting -with ~Southdown tegs','bottcr/iknbwn in-tho.colonies as.-hogs, and finish with;! the "Eastorn Counties Downs, the qttalitieiifringing! from..46'ii to :66'5..: Thod .wo como to-'thi»'strona\.mountnin breeds, whioh are mostly of,i).bout.'32'B- quality. .-When- tho abovo mutton? bVecds-of shcop afo ;mated with tho merino' thofo--is -.produced .a ; really;. first-class crossbred,. and .hero .again: qualities can i bo obtained -from : 36's'to-, £6's.- : according to tho class of oiro ''used.-•': Thero: is no doubt that--to undorstand. all .the "above, a. • man wants, to "bo handling the'wools for Some considerable time, but if tho -above particulars! aro- carefully analyoed.it will be seen that soveral of, tho breeds turn off the samo .qualities, and nser3, knowing this resort do a good deal of blending on purnoso : »o. iobtaia-'good- i manufacturing results. Perhaps Somo ono aßks..what .'is actually moant by quality, and the reply: is -that, this foaturo determines tho ' spinning: cor.nt.or longth fto which■ the'wool will, go when .it.'comes to: that process.:' Expanchco,- has found; that it is vimposstblo to: spin •■, wool', beyond' its . tensile ntrongth, and, tho ; machir.ery. was never made whereby ■■ it was -possimo :■ to - spin: to, the; samo ftcgreo-.of.fltienoss- Lincoln wool as . :morino. ■Tho flnor the fibre tho :Dnor. the, yard that, can be spunl-from it.;: ; ;: y/'"':....': /; ';'■; ';■■'■ : i:' : iC. S^EApy: AND :FIBMiIiAEKET. ; -:'; Conditions in Bradford''still'manifest all :th« Hound features which coa bo dMired, there is a satif.factory turnover,, arid prices ore all still tending- in. the. sellers' favours. ....Tho .market romains' in'a'nost'-activo state, and business is still good to do. V Naturally, ÜBers wavo. very much against paying raoro.but ovory ■ quality is dear'or than a fortnight ■oeo. ... It.« imposoiblo to operato to-day at lzjd. Jor 40 s, tho majority-of tonmakors wanting 13d., and some oven' more.' ' The fact .is,- vory. significant that thl3-quality .'of top has stuck about tho most of any during the recent spell of activity, and while no doubt somo fair, weights havo changed hands, still there .has r.6t: been .the ereatvsalei bore which wo havo seen in,46s and upwards, Thoro is a'"grdat -scarcity .of 50 o and 56s tops, and-somo :aro'naming oven JOd. for tho former, Evidently consumption horo is on . & large scale, and also .America is ,still a willing any ■ flooces -which aro ■ good, enough for thai auarter.- -'Evidently there.:f3 going to ba- a :squcexa for' this wool: for .tho remainder of thir year. When we icomo to merinos, thore in still consideVablo' now.''business passing, - and- dw tinotlymoro could bo done if topmakera .would nndortaka;fresh obligatioris.-; : >.The»:is.ajmncl iinoriirs" as ever,'but. nobody, wants to sell whal they hava not got, atkapTfor delivery dunnt tho nent;three-months^- There-is^to-day,mors forward bdsiness on tho hooks'« Bradford ton makers than there .has ,been- for :many, .yeari lhack, and plenty of. fpintorj.'have :bought all theviwant for this ycar.V ■Valnes i are ■ all « r.eodingly flrm.land fflper:6o's aro to-day ,wont 2s. 31d. There is still a demand for, tht raw material, and'woo! 19' in no sonso plonti -fnl. Large. Wocksl of' Mazamont'skin aro soil ing nit,'long" flanves. tnomakcrs flnditj*. a air fioo.Wy in. snpolyin'' their, ;: Nolls -aro t chad's belter to sMI, and a fraction more car b* j»«defer raerino^.-.' Oonsnrsption, thronah ont Ithe «ntiro- district lis,-.malntaintd at Ou highest-,wjint. and there' is ovory-'prospeft ,o: rnOis - being Imwy ,throu?h' ,th« -whole wint«r liittlo'-nrogrc?'! is-'beingjmade in regard to sell ing' forward for- next, yow, and-topmaßersvas .sort, that they: wovld see> hov the sni.os- in Aue'.T n -lia: b'toro : . commiUini : tbom«(<lvest.i-a'n'.woight of forwardlmslness A" allko acknowledgo that the "uHook tbinr lfko it'.wns'a vo»r. ago,-nnfl buyers hav left for AuctrallH: with, a wrap""* "J '"if 11 fi w wool os:'to'cTTato>:snmcwhat difficult itfohair. is dolnff llittlp more <han mark time but; prices: aro Arm all round.