THE WOOL INDUSTRY OF AUSTRALIA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 68, 4 December 1880, Page 4

THE WOOL INDUSTRY OF AUSTRALIA.

The following information, in an article on the wool industry of Australia, is published in the Melbourne Argus' Exhibition supplement :— "In 1879 the Australian colonies exported 523,2?4,33#b. of woo}, which was -valued at .£16,901,789. This return includes New Zealand, which contributed 62,220,8101b. of wool, valued at a good return from a country that only commenced exporting yrool in 1848. The export from Victoria was 47,973.0911b., valued at £2,653,528. It is not only by increasing the number of sheep that Australian sheep-farmers have increased their export of wool. The weight of the fleeces has been nearly doubled by improvement effected in the breed of sheep by the use of high-class rams. In 1860 the average production of wool per sheep in Australia was 2"941b .greasy and 1701b. washed. In 1870 the yield per head had increased to S's2lb. per head greasy and 2oslb. per head Yrasaexl. In 18T 7 the yield was 4*291b. per head greasy and 2>361b,2 > 361b, washed ; so that in less than 20 years, the average yield of wool per sheep throughout Australia was nearly doubled, and in connection with this increase in the yield it must be taken into consideration tihati the fleeces, both washed and greasy, were sent to market in a much better condition in 1877 than in 1860."