YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1400, 28 March 1912, Page 3

YORKSHIRE LETTER.

TASMANIAN WOOLS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS.

(I'l'om Our Special Correspondent.) Bradford, February IG, 1912. Tho incoming Australian mail brings a full account oi the sales which took place hist January at llobart and I.auncestun, and evidently some very good prices were realised. 'IT.is is a matter of considerable moment to the trade, and even to woolgrowers it is not without some significance. There is no doubt that the first cun-ideraiiou with is a financial one, and to be able to produce nn animal which will yieiit tlio largest pt-s-iblo profit is the goal of all sluepbreeders the wide world over. No sensible bii-iuess man can grumble at such a policy being in vogue, but wool men are a set of individuals who often cry out; in fact, it js their nature to indulge in adverse criticism. Hence, no surprise need be felt at the frequent, complaints which are heard respecting Tasmania)! wool, many finding fault at the rapid decrease in the numbers of merinos, and the increase of crosshreds. No doubt, sheepmen arc able to give a very satisfactory reason for the change that has come over the scene, and instead of complaining, I suppose they will bo satisfied with their present line of action. Still, there is something to be said from a wool standpoint, particularly in regard to the decreasing isuppl-v of merino wool from the "tight little island." TASMANIAN MERINOS. ■Whatever sheep-breede) may saj to the contrary, Tasmania .has made'for itself a brilliant name for its merino stud sheep, and it will be a thousand pities if those who have been responsible for bringing Australian merino wool to its present standard of perfection relinquish tho breeding of tho finc-woolled animal. Jt may be all right for the rank anil file to go in for the everlasting crossbreds, but 1 repeat that it will be a serious matter in more centres than one for those who yield to tho influence of the crossbred "craze. There is absolutely no need for any to cease breeding that class of sheep which has made their clips renowned, anil this has certainly exercised a beneficial inKuence upon many a iioek throughout the Commonwealth. Tasmanian wool excels in many leading characteristics, and it would be a hard contest ii two or three leaning lasmtunatt merino sheep men were la exhibit Jieeces aloiis«kl« a .<?w irojn West Ykt'jfia. J'roIjiiLuy thai laitvi: wuuUi win, hut the u.riuer would nut )ju i:ir behind I lie Wot Victorian clips. Un the whole, the la.-?!-named won Id give a bettor, clean yield, but as legards quality, soilness of handle, and real spinning property, there are two or three West \ ictonan dips which, us tho Yorkshire men say, would spin any length, and there are two or three_Tasuianian brands of wool which would not be a great deal behind, if any. However, Tasmauian wool is so excellent in character that it is quite good enough to meet the most fastidious demands ot the trade, and all buyers have very much regretted that Tasmania is not a larger island and capable of producing a hundred-fold more wool than it is doing. However, we have to make the best out of the quantity of wcol available, and to some extent tho smallness of the clips helps to make what is grown all the more appreciated by members of the trade. LEADING CHARACTERISTICS. Looking minutely at Tnsinu'.iiau wools, we are impressed lir.it of ail Willi the excellent quality oi the merinos grown. Usually we get a very nice, saiisiadory quality, a lew ot the leaning cliaraetensucs U.'iiig superb. Alter all, quality toils its oitn tale, and i am more convinced than ever tnat many South Australian dips would be mote noted if they were a Irnle liner, ft is all right trying t-j evolve -a sheep that will give a l;'g Handful of wed, ami so produce v.nat are known as "balo-iiiiers,' but at the same time il a clip, on being turned out, tails to call forth the aUeuiiou of (lie v.lioie buying trade, then prices are bound to sulfer! Let no reader misunderstand my meaning, i am not now advocating a return to the production of slurp which will grow item's oi 70s to quality, and of short clothing length ; but J uo press the point that a goad standard ol quality is still most acicpiable to the trade. 1 should certainly l.e mure pleased if the same standard ol quality could be obtained ill some of the Middle and Lower North wools which are grov;n in South Australia, as in tiiat which comes Irom the south-eastern portion oi' thi> same | State, but, of course, I cannot say whether this is n physical impossibility or not. There is no doubt that climate and pasturage play an important part in determining the quality of ilecces, but after all the trade demands at least a meuiumqv.alitv wool. Unfortunately some ot tn? Tasmanian ikece's which once enjoyed considerable reput'i cannot to-day be compared with what thev were ten years ago, and instead of the soft, silk-like handle ot a 7U's finality, the sheep have been allowed to I'.-crnerate seriously as to produce a strong, lluiiy, yiry staple. M hat several 'iasinarmu flecks lack to-daj is ui'.itormitv of fleece, and this is a lealure which 1 would impress upon pastoralists all over tho world. I ho hcece oi 1V ,c.l that is tine at the bo loin ol the staple, and depreciates m quality towarus the lip, V. it'll tho fibres as straight as a pipe slcm. shows that, there is much lacking, and this is an important point/ whu-h needs to be careiuliy borne ill mind by all sheep-breeders. THE TASMANIAN FLEECE. Tasmanian wools are seldom tender. On the other hand, in Vorkshire phrase ; dv'.'v, "ttiev are as sound as a hell. The' reader is certain to know that out of tender wool it is impossible to produce a satisfactory top, yarn or piece, and H:d'r w./td in a woven iabnc always makes a pear article, i have often seen pier:", relumed as "cold pig simply because tt.ev were tender. To proilnce a sr.mil a'-t-.elo woul users must have-sound raw material to start with. Thero are no more eager buyers of Tasmanian wool than makers of army and police clothes, nr,.-ticulurly the former. 1 could name half a dr.r.en West Hiding firms of woolleu manuiaelurers who compete very keenly for Tasmanian wools when they are offered in London during the May and July series of sales, simply lsctau.se they then lav in part stack in order to cover their wants ior the remainder of tho vear. Of course, somo wools go for topmakine, but verv few of them are merinos, for the reason already named, it b 'iug well-known that a woollen manufacturer can aiways give a better price than a topni-.iker can. Ta-manian flecces also come a very gee,l colour, wlrch is always an important 1 actor in determining llio price of anv weal. A ge:d colour means that the wu'ui can be dyed to any shade, and in thc-e davs when there are so many delicate tints wanted in the textile world, whiteness of fibre and absence of yellow stains is a very acceptable point. As a rule, Tusmnninn merinos are liil'e fatly, but that never interferes with the washing operation, iyoiK in v.\.0l is a feature than can always lie ibalt with in a very easy manner, soap and water being a" leatiy cleansing 'agent. A soft handle is also a valuable characteristic in all wools, and this important feature is -always present in Tasmanian produce. 1 think it is on account of this that cloth-makers say Tasmanian produce is a good second 'to Victorian wool, and there is no doubt that not- only do we get a satinii, well-made arlic-le, but also a soft, silk-like handle which is always appreciated ill we.e-lieu or worsted goads. Turning to Tasmanian crossbreds, there are present the same eharaeleristies that are found in merinos, with the exception o! qualify. Of course, that varies considerably,' according to the number of cro'-'es, but the Tasmanian comebacks are highly prized by spinners for fine hosiery yarns', so'eiy because they arc found to be almost as lino as merinos. Turning to wool conditions, I am unfortunately compelled to report the contiiuuiino of a slow time. Everybody appears (o be "slack-set up," ami spinners are unwilling to anticipate the future. It appear* a-; if ihe majority are well able to ; tni to the end of March with the eontraeU they fixed up some time ago, anil nederally they want to see a lower range v,i \..!:ifs. The majority are singing in a very law tone, ami rum l laiuing bitterly - at the e.leem-e of yarn btisjne!-. Still nil | i•!i-1 ill-; flame- an- running, though prol- | aiily Hi a le-.v ease- tiny are running to I In fact, ne kmm they are, but the : -e.ine i-Np -rn-m-e has been '.-e:i heiore. and 1 in the eatgi'ig.rir eonsUi'.ip;ior. is well mainI laiuetl. Via (!',■' tali i- lor lower pries. oral lis: rs seem to ho more persuaded than ; i-\. ilia! we -hall see lil's obtainable at I 2-ld. to 2fjd. That if the baiit of values

upon which the majority have niado up their minds to buy on future accounts. Tilings are really no worst) than they were a week ago, but that is not saymg a great <lenl. What we wont most ot all is some new yarn orders, ami until they come wo are afraid that we shall not witness any renewed aetivitv. There is u good ileal of grumbling at trade not being brisk, but no doubt those interested in keeping down values are fiddling oil these strings for all thev am worth. At the same time there is no sign that trade is as bad as some want to make out. Turning to the fleece of the mutton breeds, conditions here are slightly worse if anything than in merinos. A good deal of hammering ha* been done to gel; 10's down to 12\d.. and lO's caviled to llUd., with prepared sort? about Id. more. There is no doubt tiiat the export yarn trade in crossbred qualities i-< in a very limp condition, and unless there is an alteration during next month, a very critical stale of ali'air; is bound to follow. There are many spinners who have not booked a decent; order since In it June end .Inly: in fact, some have had no good sale since last April, tlio little business placed in November being nothing near on the same scale as one is accustomed to see.