AUSTRALIAN WOOL ITS HISTORY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 41, 18 February 1911, Page 13

AUSTRALIAN WOOL ITS HISTORY.

Anniversary Day, writes the Sydney Herald, is certainly an opportune time to reflect upon the growth of what is, beyond dispute, our greatest industry. The statistics issued by the Government Statistician, Mr. Trivott, as an instalment of the Year Book, 1909-10, pictures the steady increase in our flocks and wool production since calamitous 1902. The figures illustrate what a great achievement the building of our sheep and wool industry has been. iUuch of this was obtained by unrivalled natural advantages, such as are not met with in equal degree in other parts, but they would have been of little avail if the sbeepbreeders, from the first, had not taken the opportunity to utilise these advantages to the best of purpos3s. Others that came after only improved on the methods of breeding adopted -by lUaearthur, the father of the merino wool industry of Australasia. Improvement was also slow, as the impurities in the earliest importations nad to be eradicated, and much of the country on which the merino was introduced was unsuitable for it. Then tho question of the best types for different classes of country had also to be found out. But once these questions were satisfactorily anewered, the progress of the merino out "here was a steadily increasing one, and a Httle over a century after its introduction the acme of perfection was reached. No other country where the merino is bred can make a similar clainf. As skilled breeders of this breed Australasia has no superior. What has always appealed to manufacturers in Australian wool is that they can obtain every quality, and of a softness, elasticity, and spinning character unequalled by any other merino wool. They have learned that in dry seasons 6ome of these characteristics may be wanting, but this temporary check does not change their allegiance" one iota. They also know that many of tho leading breeders have studied their requirements, and their names or brands are so vveli known that even if any of these clips show a shortcoming, they will stiH buy them. This is a great incentive to breeders to_ continue on the same lines, and to avoid changing the character of their liock, for although manufacturers may Know nothing about sheep, they will quickly recognise a departure of a fornio* standard. Yet wo have seen great changes in breeding. Starting with New South Wales, where the industry was founded, we find Macarthur sending some of the Spanish merino wool to England in 1803, and the manufacturers who saw it stating that it was of a superior quality and equal to most of which came from Spain. This stamps it at once as a fine wool, and knowing the character of the country (Parramatta) on which it was bred, it must have been light in yolk, of fair length, and clean. Wlien the country across the mountains was settled upon, first the Bathurst, then the Mudgee (including Cassilis and Merriwa) districts, the character of the wool changed, and so had the type 'of sheep. By that time sheep from Saxony, Silesia, and Prussia had been introduced. The wool was, as a rule, heavier 1 in yolk and shorter in length, although of fine quality. Then came the settlement on the plains of Riverina. The sheep bred there atl first were of a mixed character, western district of Victoria, cmd Mudgee, but the nature of the country soon, altered these types, and introductions from Tasmania, and, in a smaller decree, and long afterwards, of the Eambouillet, moulded a type which brought about a fame which has ever since stuck to Riverina sheep. The main characteristics of the wool are good length, splendid combing character, a medium, strong quality, and a gradually increasing density of the staple. A good deal of the latter has been brought about on some of the stations by the .introduction ci the American merino. Speaking in a general way of the character of the New South Wales wools of to-day, the finest qualities come from New England, Mudgee, Monaro, and the Hurray, but only from portions of these centres, tho medium qualities from Riverina, Central Districts, and NorthWest, and the strongest from the Western Districts. In Victoria the first sheep, which came from Tasmania in 1835, were of a mixed character ; but here again local conditions, especially in the western district, fixed the typo now so well known. For fineness of quality it owes much to introductions from Tasmania and Germany. The Rumbouillet did not make its appearance until 1859, but it was sparsely used. The American was also bred for a while, mainly to increase density. Victoria can now claim to produce the highest-priced wool in Australasia. The characteristics of this wool, grown in the western district, are great length and elasticity, light in. yolk, and brightness and clearness. It isj an ideal wool for the manufacture of fabrics of the best quality, such aa dress material, shawls, ?nd worsteds. In' the other parts of Victoria the wool is of a mixed character. Tasmania started its wool industry in 1820 with 300 of the Camden Park sheep, and these were followed by introductions fiom Germany. To James Cox, of Clarendon, the island owes its fame, for ihe high character of its sheep, and wools from there always commanded high prices. Like Victoria, the best sheep became centred in what is known as the Midlands, of which Campbelltown is the chief town. Local conditions were all in favour of fine quality and length of staple, but this was not brought to perfection until the rather coarse native grasses were replaced by English varieties. South Australia, like Victoria, grows a wool of a distinct type. ''-'he first sheep is said to have been introduced thero by the South Australian Land Company in 1836 from Saxony. These sheep were totally unfit for tho countiy, and steps were taken to bring over a lot from Tasmania, followed afterwards by some from New South Wales and Victoria. Here, again, we see the country dictating the type of sheep most suitable for it. Untortunately, the demand for theee ia confined, although during Jhe pact two or threeyears they are meeting with a better support. The best claes is also confined to one portion of the State. The main characteristics of the wool are: — Very great length, quality medium strong to strong, fairly light in yolk, and of medium elasticity. Except in the best studs there is a greater loss in spinning than from the Riverina wools, which approach it nearest, owing to the want of nourishment of the top of the staple. In Queensland the ■breeding of fine wools is confined tn the Darling Downs. The average characteristics of -the Downs wools resemble the New England, but in the Western, Central, and Northern divisions of the State the wool approaches that from the central parts of New South Wales, although not of such a profitable character. It is, however, light in yolk, anel in a scoured state brings a higher price than that of its neighbour, but the yield per sheep is lees. Western Australia has yet to make its name as a wool producer of the same reputation as Tasmania, New South Walee, Victoria, a.iid South Australia. Its voole, however, bring a fairly good price, although mixed in chair cter. The Brat ehcep introduced there wero from Saxony by a Mr. M'Devmott, about 1838,.