NEW ZEALAND WOOL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 62

NEW ZEALAND WOOL.

A great tribute is paid to New Zealand wools by Mr Rollings, the wellknown English wool expert, in the last number to hand of the “Live Stock Journal.” The main points brought home to the English farmer are these: Since the introduction of frozen meat from New Zealand, Canterbury-grown wools have done more in developing the crossbred trade of Bradford than even the product from home-grown sheep. Fabrics have been made of a crossbred character, which could never have been produced out of English wools, and which to-day are appealing to buyers because of the soft handle and the more attractive appearance which the goods possess when made from New Zealand crossbred wools The quantity of dress goods is now higher than it ever was before, while ih» variety is tenfold what it was 15 years ago. Whenever any light and wellgrown New Zealand clip comes on to the market there is a, great competition for it between Home and American buyers, and, as a rule, the best portions are taken for the Boston market. In writing .on the leading contributing causes Mr Holbngs says he has no doubt that climate and pasture are leading contributing causes in bringing this about, the temperate climate helping to support and promote the elasticity of the wool fibres. But he places greater reliance on the more or less merino blood in the New Zealand crossbred wool. It is very pleasing to see such a fine tribute paid

to these wools, but when I ('Tuana’’ in "Sydney Mail") consulted Stables and St raker’s circular I found that Victorian crossbred wools bring higher prices than New Zealand's. The Western district of Victoria has always been celebrated for the softness and elasticity of its wools, whether merino, British breeds, crossbred, or comeback. The latter especially has been produced of a quality which I have never seen surpassed in any of the other States. Those with from threequarter to seven-eighths' merino in them handle like silk. They are also very clean and light in condition. Perhaps in average weights the New Zealand will beat them. The condition of feeding in that colony makes the sheep there carry a heavier yolked fleece than any sheep in Australia, with the exception of the American merino. However, since the New Zealand crossbred wool so high in the estimation of the Bradford spinners, no doubt the breeders thereof will do all in their power to keep up to the standard.