THE STATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 852, 8 January 1879, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE STATION.

MERINO SHEEP A*T> WOOL.

The following paper, read by Mr. J. F. Nettleton to the Kaiapoi Farmers'* Club, we take from the Canterbury Weekly Press. It refers to merino sheep, and contains valuable remarks upon wool :

The Spanish Merino—From a period anterior to the Christian era, fine wool abounded in Spain, and they were, or gradually ripened into, a breed distinct in its characteristics from all other breeds in the world. It was, however, divided into provincial varieties, which exhibited considerable differences, and these were subdivided into great permanent flocks, which, being kept distinct from eaeh other and subjected to » special course of breeding, assumed the character of separate families, varvinz somewhat, but in a lesser degree Lm each other. Some of the. most esteemed families of mennos are I hus mentioned by Latfengare: -The . Escun is supposed to be posseted of the finest wool of all the migratory sheep The Guadeloupe have the most perfect form, and are likewise celebrated for the quantity and quality of their wool. The Infantodo bears a large quantity of wool and good quality, but their lambs have a coarse hairy appearance, which is succeeded by excellent wool. The Negretti are the largest and strongest of all the travelling sheep. And during the Peninsula war the list of flock* lost were the lEacurial, Negretti, and Arnsa which are ! the only ones admitted to have been lost. i The weight of unwashad Spanish fleeceiram, o*lb.; ewe, 51b. The farst picked flocks introduced into England avenged 3t!b.. brook washed, and also lost lib. more in scouring, and those were the Nearetti breed. A Mr. Youatt measured the diameter of the wool of the various flocks introduced from Spam into England. I iadgefrom his statements that l»o0 part of an inch may be assumed as about the average diameter of fineness of the. good Spanish wool of that period. The French Merinos—After several successful experiments in acdimatisingithe Spanish Merino in France, in 1786 300 of a picked flock after ten years* breeding—the stock from which the flock of Rambouillet was derived—was composed of sheep beautiful beyond any that had ever before been brought from Spain, but having been chosen from a great number of flocks in different parts of the kingdom, ! they were distinguished by very striking local differences, which formed a medley disagreeable to the eye, but immaterial as it affected their quality. These characteristic differences have melted into each other by their successive alliances, from whence ha* resulted n race whip", perhaps, resembles none of those which composed the primitive stock, but whieh certainly doe* not yield in any circumstances to the most beautiful in point of size, form of strength, or in the fineness, length, softness, Strength, and abundance of fleece. The comparison made with the most scrupulous attention between this wool and the highest priced of that drawn from Spam that Eambonillet is superior. Weight of fleeces unwashed for a aeries of years—ln 179fi, f.tb*; 1797, 6lbs **; 1798, Tibs ; 1799, Btbs ; 1800, 8lbs; 1801 9tb* lor ; but in 1802, the medium weight of nursing ewea' full-grown fleeces Blbs '7ezi of ewes three year* old, which had no lambs 9tbs 13oz ; and the wools »n general varied in quality.

He then quoted Mr. Cahl's remarks in reference to wools at the Australian Exhibition published by us some days ago. THE FIBRH. The fibre of wool, having penetrated the skin and escaped from the yolk, is of a circular form, varying in diameter in different breeds, and in different parts of the same fleece, generally larger towards the extremity, and also towards the root, and in some instances very considerably

B °Tho filaments of white wool, whei cleaned from grease, are semi transparent their surface in some places is beantifnllj polished, in others curiously encrusted and they reflect the rays of light in a verj pleasing manner. When viewed by th. aid of a powerful achromatic micro&cop* the central part of the fibre has a smgulai gh Ve'r^ S minute fila meats are sometimes seen branching from the main trunk like boughs from the pnn cipal stem. This exterior polish vanes much in different wools, and m wools from the same breeds of sheep at different times. When the animal is in good condition, and the fleece healthy, the appear.tt.ee oi the fibre is beautiful or brilliant, but whet the sheep has been half starved the wool MMDft to owe sympathised with the *-£ (4 the and either a "- -««»& %ht 7 ,or sooiatijncs acarcelj *an ot „ *^n t my is retlec. ' -4. y£«r niflch in the care But this depei.. to present m & attention of the • . im■he brilliancy, for it can be • 1 nediatelybyan efficient of w °°» s - . -<*, Save been known from neglect entin... from close observation, will *»«•*«.»«*; narfcabte diminution of the bulk of fibre , STinstance, a withered, and opaque sur£ce,and apartialloss of the characteratic serrations and cones, these wools are nach reduced in value for thejr respective imposes in manufacturing. As a general SJthe filament is most transparent in Sbest and useful wools whether long or Ihort. It increases with the improvement fthe breed, and the fineness and healthless of the fleece; but a* the same time it nust be acknowledged that some wools degrees of *»n*«W «g Jarfty whieh do not appear to affect SSe/ Where the staple contains * renarkable smoothness re j rhich is a great feature in the value of »oo!s of that description. THE pROPERtIES OP WOOLS. In calling yonr attention to thej>roMrties of wool, to the size of tha fibre, or £e fineness or the coarsenwa of wool ine and coarse are only vague and general ££ription. of wool. All fine fleeces, vn nmA have some coarse wool, and the KSetoece some finer description. 1 ri*io point«u* for your »pfo«^ ,o °* £ liitmguishthe wioo»«JoahUes of woolin

the order which they are esteemed and preferred by the manufacturer—first, fineness, with close staple. The property which first attracts the attention of the breeder and the buyer, one of great importance, is the fineness of the pile, which varies a considerable degree in different parte of the fleece—the diameter of the •amo fibre is often different at the extremity of the centre. By micrometer examinations have indicated that the diameter of the former is five times as much as that of the latter, and consequently that a given length of pile, taken from the extremity, would weigh twenty-five times as much as the same length taken from the centre, and cleansed from all yolk and grease. The fineness of the wools differs greatly on the different parts of the Bheep, that running down the side of the neck and covering the shoulders, the rib 3, and the back are the finest, the next covers the superior part of the legs and thighs, and extends up to nearly the haunch and the tail, and still you will find inferior portions run along the upper of the neck, the throat, the breast, the belly, and the lower part of the legs. You will find a considerable variation in this respect in different breeds, and in sheep of the same breed, and although a fleece, taken generally to a particular use, yet a portion may be employed in the manufacture of a much more valuable article, and at the game time a greater quantity will be thrown aside, as not sufficiently fine for the originally intended purposes. Tmeness of Staple—Connected with fineness is trueneas of staple, as equal a growth as possible over the animal, a freedom from the shaggy portions here and there, which are occasionally observed on poor or neglected sheep. These portions are almost worthless, on account of being tende F and coarse, which indicates an irregular, and unhealthy action of the secretion of the wool, which always tends to weaken the fibres deceased in other parts of the animal. Comprised In trueness of fibre is another material circumstance that is a freedom of coarse hairs which project above the level generally of the wool in various parts, if they are not externally scan, they mingle with the wool and debase its character, The most important of all, from those irregularities in the bulk of the fibres of wool, which render it difficult at times to give it a name and character which must interfere with its usefulness, and also breeches in the wool so singular TO appearance, and the distance of which from the extremity or the root, will enable the observer of the imperfections occurred, which may generally be traced to cold or starvation or else some malady of the skin itselfSoft or silkiness of wool is a material advantage to the generality of wools of the finest textures and medium qualities, and those wools are Spanish and Saxony, and the latter wools from Silesia, are finer and sdkier than any other grown in the world There are many ideas respecting the valuable properties respecting the softness of the pile, but it is evidently connected with the yolk. There is no doubt that this substance i* designed, not only to nourish the hair, but to give it richness jand pliability. In order to keep this natural a-ency, it ha* become a matter of creat enquiry how to keep the yolk in the animal throughout the year, to obtain and perserve it until it is shorn, as it is regarded as the very essential and cardinal points of the sheep, &c. plasticity.— It has been observed that a fibre of wool closely examined presents a minute succession of spiral curves. It may bo extended between the fingers, but as soon as one end is free the hair resumes its corkscrew form which it had before. Until some of its properties are impaired by nrt it will resume its curved appearance, whenevor it has liberty to do ao. It is the union of its pliability with this principle of elasticity, the facility of oxtonsion, and the tendency to take on again its crumpled form, and each of them modified by various circumstances, that constitutes the usefulness and consequently the value of the wool. The power of elasticity is differently adjusted in different wools, m finer borts. which are destined for nner fabrics, yielding the elastic power, is curiously and beautifully adjusted, hence the softness and the fineness of thb thread and of the cloth which is made from wool 3 of that description. The Spirally Curling form or Wool,— The most evident distinguishing quality between hair and wool is the comparative straightness of the former, or the crisped or spirally curling form which the latter assumes. If a small lock of wool is held up to the light, every fibre of it is twiated into numerous minute corkscrew like ringlets This is seen especially in the fleeces of the short woolled sheep ; although leas striking, it is even seen in wool of the longest staple. There is an intimate connection between the fineness of the wool, and the number of curves, at least in sheep yielding wool of the same length, so that the wool of different sheep, it is enough for the observer to take notice of a number in a given space, in order to ; ascertain with sufficient accuracy the fine- ! ness of the fibre, Mr. Lafoure, writing on the management of German merino sheep at Hohenheim, near Wurtemburg, says tho whole flock is inspected three times a year, and before winter, when the selection of lambs is made, in the spring, and at shearing time. Each sheep is placed in its turn on a table, and examined carefully as to the growth, the elasticity, the pliability, the brilliancy, and the fineness of the wool. It has been ascertained that there is an evident connection between thefibre and the number of curves, more accurately observed by means of micrometer observations of the fleece when parted for clothing purposes, lne sorts are as follows, the same as made at present in woolstaplers' warehouses and woollen manufacturers'.

Curves in an Diameter of Fibre. • v>rt - inch. . . . , Picfcfock .. 27 to 29 .. Jorl-SlOthofanmch. Prime -• 24 to 23 .. Borl-i3oth Hc 3 T .. 20 to 23 . 9orl-CBoth „ Super .. 10 to 19 .. 10 cr l : S?Sth DoWnrujhts .. 10 tx> 17 .. 11 or 1-534 th „ Second? .- 14 to 15 .. 11J or l-510th „ AWia .. 12 to 13

Therefore the above table will show the exact difference of each quality of those aorta which are used, or ought to be used, in all manufactories where an even and marketable article should be produced in order to insure it of obtaining a fair remunerative value, and a ready and extensive sale of the productions. I willgiveyou in thefollowing the microscopic observations of the Long Merino and Saxony, South Down, and Leicester. The first public view of serrated edge of woo}— There were a great number of exI perimente tried previous to this thai I am ! going toillustrate, Jt was in 1835, m the presents of a number of manufacturers and of science that the, following m»» «~mfned with a fleece! the fibre thus looked at assumed a flaUcned ribbon-like form. It was of a ZSffV darker towards the centre and with faint lines across it. The i .dees were evidently hooked, ormore prooeriy serrated, and resembled the teeth of KneS* thie were irregular fn different parts of *he field in view both » to size number. Tte «*» of * e fibre was ascertained, and it gas onefortieth of an inch in diameter. By means, of the micrometer divided this into four, and then counted the number of serrations into each division, in order to ascertain to a certainty. Three & f ti>e gentlemen counted all four divisions, for there were a difference of some .of them. The nunu ber were' set put privately, and.l; was found thataU estimate it at fifteen in each division. Haying multiply this by four to obtain the whole field, and that by forty, the proportionate par* of an in^h : of which the they obtained; a result which could not be disputed, that I there were 2400 serrations w *he space of

one inch,- all '.A ••'•:ni projected i;> t>• same direction, viz , from the root to the point; then before they quitted the examination of the fibre as to its transparency they endeavored to ascertain its actual diameter, and proved it to be l-750th of an inch.- The next is a fibre of Saxony wool, an improved breed of the merino by careful and dexterous management. It is evidently a finer wool than the merino. It is the l-840th part of an inch in dia> meter; the serrations are as distinct—they are not quite so prominent, yet there is not much difference in this respect, and certainly not greater than the difference in the bulk of the fibre would produce. There is a little more irregularity in the distribution of the serrations, and after carefully counting there is an average of seventeen in each of the four divisions of the fibre. The number multiplied by four will give sixty-eight as the whole number in the field of view, and that multiplied by forty will yield a product of 2720, the number of irregularities in the edge of a fibre in the space of an inch.

SOUTH DOWN. A very fine and useful wool for fine worsted goods, used largely formerly for cloth goods, but since the merino has been so largely introduced for fine worsted goods, its hoggetts, when ill good condition, aire generally for warps in dress material. In speaking of the fibre, it is evidently larger than the merino. It is the l-660th part of an inch. The serrations differ in character ; these are larger, but not so acute, they almost appear as if they had been rounded ; they have a rhomboidal and not a hooked character, and they are evidently fewer in number in the same space. There are thirteen in each division, making; according to the mode of multiplication already pursued, 2080 serrations in an inch, or 640 less than the Saxon. The serrations which were observpd in the edge of the cups in the long merino and the Saxon, are here resolvable into small leaves, three very visible ; the vaoanoy or angle between the tops of them not being of any considerable depth.

In conclusion, the Leicester Wool.— This wool having been one of the most useful on record, will always call the attention of the breeder and the wool grower. It is' used more in different varieties of goods than any other wools of one class. With respect to the fibre of thi3 woo} it is considerably larger, it is 1-oOQth of an iijch. Qn account of its bulk, the little wavy Hues about it give more decided indications of irregular structure, the serrations are superficial, irregular, differently formed in different part 3, a few like small spines, not projecting far from the surface, but running along it. Other prominences are more rounded, and occasionally they gave the idea of lying one upon another, as if two rods had been spliced together, with the end of one projecting beyond the other. They were evidently fewer in number, each quarter of the field contained but eleven, amounting to only 1860 in the space of an inch, 0r°220 less than the Southdown. Regarding the foregoing remarks on the microscopic observations, an efficient or skilful wool sorter will detect differences which' are no£ appreciable by the above instrument.

The Yolk. —There have been many discussions on the formation of yolk, and what were the causes at shearing that a great quantity of fleeces were discolored andmatted, andarough festeringsecretion, in all appearance of a scab. Not, I must remind you, not of that scab which is an insect, the gpeatest pest of all diseases to that" animal, The filament of wool has scarcely pushed itself through the pore of the skin, then it has to penetrate through another and singular substance, which from its adhesiveness and color is called yolk. It is found about the breast and shoulders, the very parts which produce the best and healthiest, and most abundant wool, and in proportion, as it extends to any considerable degree in other parts the wools are also improved. You will find it most in the merino class of sheep, and also of the finer class of the English sheep. I

have found this a very great material point, in inspecting wools that have been exposed in the time of shearing to rabid hot nor-'westers, which renders the wool wild in appearance, and also harsh in handling on account of the yery nature of its support from its commencement of its growth. Thorefore the wools that have been packed in that state and when opened at home the dead appearance when exposed for sale, and also the harshness of handling deteriorates the value of those wools to a serious extent. Yolk is not the perspiration of the animal, it is not composed of matter that has been accidentally picked up and that has lodged in the wool, but it is a peculiar secretion from the glands of the skin, destined to be one of the agents in the nourishment of the wool, and at the 3ame time, by its adhesiveness, to mat the wool together, and forms a sort of defence from the wet and the cold. I have seen a great many opinions on the way in which the yolk act 3 upon the wool, Some have considered it as the superabundance of that substance ' which forms the filament, and whioh by somo unknown process, while the pile is growing, is consolidated into a transparent mass, while others declare also, which I have seen for years, and I paid a great attention to it, that it is a peculiar secretion which exudes through the skin, and by intermingling with the pile renders it soft, pliable, and healthy, .

..15 • • i B £5 Ft "s 9 1 i Hi • - si r i Weil* K he. including wool. « « «3 £2. ? Lentfthtrom mouth to horns. U3 5,1 O ieneth frt.m hora to shouIJcr. I»t3 t*C£ Length from shoulder to t«U. .____ . W * ■ **■ *.*■ r The whole length. as 1 iroference of the belly. So oo siw era I Height of the for* legs. -*ce s< ' r . | Height of the hind — »e . 1 Distance of the lii| hones »part.