LONG-STAPLED WOOL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1140, 1 April 1870, Page 3

LONG-STAPLED WOOL.

The following, which we extract from an address of the Council of tho Bradford Chamber of Commerce, dated July 27, 1869, will be of great interest to some of our wool-growers. Tho address is signed by Jacob Behrens, President, and John Dai'lington, Secretary : — The importance of increasing the supply of long-stapled wool may be estimated by the fact, that the demand for tho goods produced from these wools has fully kept pace with the immensely increased quantity of the home grown as well as of tho imported supply. While in 1861, 1,289,172 spindles and 43,0-18 power looms were employed in the production of worsted yarns, and goods, 2,103,210 spindles and 7i,6G6 power looms were in active employment in 18G8, and since then the ratio of increase in now machinery in this neighbourhood, and in many places on the continent, is believed to have been still greater. Thus, there is every probability that the worsted manufacture will long be able to afford remunerating prices for any quantity of good, serviceable, combing wool which all owners of sheep ought to aim at, so far as the nature of climate, soil, and other circumstances may permit. The wool most in request and always fetching Uio highest price, lias a staple from four to ten inches long, according to its fineness ; it; ought to be, as far as possible, uniform in quality throughout its whole length ; bright and lustrous in appearance, or soft and kind to tho touch ; of good spinning qualities ; and free from burrs or other vegetable fibre. Where possible, tho breed of sheep should be improved by tlie introduction of carefully selected English rams. It is most desirable to obtain tho whole natural length of the staple by only clipping the lambs or slieep once during the season's growth. When tho sheep cannot be pastured all the year round upon succulent grasses', a constant supply of artificial food will prevent tho staple becoming tender. The two last-mentioned points are of the greatest importance, for insufficient food during one season, and frequent clip-piug.-more than anything else deteriorate the quality and depreciate the value of otherwise good and useful wool. Tho sheep should bo well washed before they aro clipped, and the fleece properly clocked or cleaned. It is also desirable that a proper classification of wool should be made in packing, and that the packing itself bo thoroughly trustworthy and honest. This chamber will at any limo be ready to answer any enquiries, and give more special information to correspondents who may wish to increase the supply, or to improvo the quality of their wools. They also offer their gratuitous services in the selection of rains for exportation. Samples of English wool, the quality of which all growers would find it their interest to approach, if they cannot equal, will be forwarded without charge to London or Liverpool, on a request to that effect being addressed to fcho Secretary of this Chamber. Large supplies of this wool now come to the English market, and are very much, in favor, especially the long-stapled wools, usually termed the Leicester breed, which at the colonial sales in London realise higher prices than much finer wools. More care should be exorcised in the washing and classing, tho long and the short being kept separate in packing.