NEW ZEALAND WOOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 285, 16 May 1857, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND WOOL.

We take the following remarks from the " Wellington Spectator," and subjoin from, the " Independent" the letters referred to, addressed to Mr. Tiffen, Wellington :—: —

Our readers will thank us for printing some valuable practical suggestions on the kind of wool likely to form the most profitable export from New Zealand, by an English manufacturer, which have been kindly furnished to us by Mr. Tiffen, who has also placed at our disposal some notes, the results of a careful examination of the wools of different European breeds of Merino sheep exhibited at the Paris Exhibition made by him with the view of selecting, for importation into the colony, from the flocks best adapted to improve the breed of sheep in New Zealand.

The question, which is the best sort of wool for New Zealand — the wool the colony is best adapted to produce — the wool which would become the most profitable export and best remunerate the wool grower — is one of great importance to the colony and to flockowners, and affords a theme for profitable and interesting discussion to practical men. Hitherto, we believe, not much attention has been paid to the subject : the sheep in New Zealand have been imported from the Australian colonies, and any difference in the wools has resulted from that produced by the change from a dry to a moist climate. The chief difference is observed to be a greater length of staple in the wool, that is to say, the wool is of greater length, and consequently the fleece of greater weight in New Zealand than it would be from the same sheep in Australia. It would seem that the effect of good feed and a humid climate is to increase the length and strength of the wool, while in a dry climate like New South Wales, if the wool is finer, it is shorter in staple, and the fleece is consequently less in weight and not equal in elasticity and strength to New Zealand wool. The advice given in the suggestions afforded by a person of considerable practical experience points to this result, namely, that the most profitable wool to be grown in New Zealand is that under which a certain amount of fineness is combined with length and strength of staple, and that it is better to try and attain this result than to aim at fineness of wool as the chief excellence, to the neglect of the other qualities. Our object in these remarks has been to draw attention to the papers we have referred to, and to provoke discussion on a siibject of great importance, since wool constitutes the chief export of the" colony. The demand for Australian wools by the ' French manufacturers which has lately arisen, and which.it is probable will become still greater,

Las been frequently noticed by the colonial papers. One cause which we have heard assigned is interesting and worthy to be noted — the falling off in the quantity of fine German wools brought into the market ; and this is attributed to the improved condition generally of the people on the Continent, and the greater consumption by them of animal food than was the the case some twenty years ago. This makes it more profitable to the German flockmaster to look to the weight of carcase than to the quality of wool. Such a cause is likely to be permanent, and its effect will be to keep up the value of Australian and New Zealand wools in the market. Another cause which has brought wools of the quality produced in New Zealand into more general request, has been the great improvement in machinery which allows combing wools to be used for carding purposes, and this is strongly dwelt upon in Mr. Beardsell's remarks.

Huddersfield, Oct. 17th, 1856.

My Dear Sir, — I am surprised there should be any one in your colony, if at all connected with wool growing, who should be so ignorant as to suppose they could grow any quantity of wool " carding wool," worth from 3s. to 6s. per lb., and if you could grow it, that it would be nearly so profitable as growing a longer and consequently a heavier fleece, worth Is. 6d. to Is. 10d. per lb. Years ago, both in the time of George 111. and George IV., there used to be an idea here among some of the wool growers that it would be advantageous to grow the same kind of fine clothing wool, which was then grown and imported from Spain, and a great deal of money was expended in getting over the fine Merino breeds of sheep from Spain, but after many years of experience it has been found that our climate and pastures are not so well adapted for growing the fine clothing wool as Spain and Germany, and if they could be grown here (which in some parts they could not) it would not be nearly so profitable as growing the long heavy fleece, combing wool, which is now grown so generally throughout England. From what I knew of your climate and soil, and from what I have seen of the wool from your colony (and I have seen and worked up a good deal of it) I am confident that to attempt to grow a fine clothing wool, or " carding wool," as you call it, would be the most unprofitable wool you could grow, and, if attempted, the results are sure to prove unsatisfactory. Your colony is peculiarly adapted for growing a middle quality of combing wool, a kind of wool for which there is now a good demand, and has been for years, and : likely to continue for many years to come. Although we grow in England a far greater quantity than we import from all parts of the world put together, and notwithstanding that a great part of the wool is combing wool (long wool and heavy fleeces) yet the supply of this kind of wool is not equal to the demand.

The fleeces of some of the flocks in Leicestershire will average from 8 to 10 lb. each, and this wool at present is worth 16^d. to I7d. per lb., the fleece of the South Downs and some other parts of England will only average from 4 to 5 lb., and is worth very little more per lb., consequently you see a Lincolnshire fleece is worth about 125., whilst a South Down fleece is not worth more than about 7s, to Bs., and you would find the result in attempting to grow a fine clothing wool, and a good sound combing wool, to vary with you in the same ratio. You would get a much less valuable fleece in a fine clothing wool than a combing wool. Besides, the demand for long good bodied wool has been increasing for years, and is more in demand than any other at present. Being a manufacturer myself, and in the midst of the manufacturing districts, I can see various reasons for this. In the first place the worsted (stuff trade,) has become of such immense magnitude that the supply of combing wool scarcely seems equal to the demand ; and next, there is now such an immense quantity of ground up rags " carded" up or mixed and scribbled with the wool, that the woollen manufactories now prefer the long wool, because they can mix a greater quantity of the ground rags in with it, consequently both the worsted and woollen manufacturer now prefer the long wool. I am confident the most profitable wool you can grow is the heaviest fleece of a middling^quality. I should think some of the Merino rams you took over, those with a clean long wool are just the sort calculated to produce (when crossed with the sheep you have) the very kind of wool, both best suited for this market and the

kind most profitable to' grow. The fibre of the wool should be sound from the root to the end, and not Kable to break soon, but when stretched out, should sound firm when struck with the finger something like a fiddle string. The wool should be clean washed on the sheep's back, and carefully packed, that is, not coarse and locks put with the fleece, and ifc is much better to keep strings off the fleece. I am, my dear Sir, Yours very sincerely, James Beardseii.

H. S. Tiffen, Esq.

Huddersfield, Dec. 13th, 1856.

Mr Dear Sir, — I wrote you last October 17, and entered fully into .the wool growing business, I therefore don't think it necessary to say much more at present on the subject ; every sale more fully confirms the views I then expressed. * * * The wool sales in London are just over, and I never saw. New Zealand wool in such demand or realize such high prices; indeed, taking its quality, cleanliness, and all its properties into consideration, in comparison with other wools, I think it realized the best prices, and I urn certain that you cannot do better in the colonies than aim at growing a good heavy deepgrown fleece of a moderate quality and sound clean staple.

The greatest fault in New Zealand wool is the getting up ; it is not so well classed nor so well washed as the Australian and Van Diemen's Land wool. Many of the flocks would be improved by crossing with some better blood. I should select the best bred — those showing the most of the Merino blood, with a good heavy fleece. * * * * Wool is likely to sell high for some time to come, as the consumption is quite up to the production, and is likely to continue so. * * * 1 could not get you such samples of wool as I wished until the London wool sales came on : I have now some nice ones on hand, and am getting some more, when I will forward them.

I enclose two small locks of " combing" wool out of a Van Diemen's Land flock ; you could not do better than imitate them ; it sold for 2s. 2d., and is always in demand. * * This wool is moderately fine, well washed, and five iaches in length. I am, my dear Sir, Yours very truly, James Beardsell. H. S. Tiften, Esq.