SHEEP FARMING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1585, 8 April 1882, Page 7

SHEEP FARMING.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company issued a special circular for transmission by the February Brindisi mail, containing many valuable hints to those engaged in the preparation and shipment of wool. From it we make the following extracts :—: —

1. Breed of Sheep and Class of Wool.— The differences of climate and soil which prevail throughout the Australian Colonies and New Zealand of necessity involve a variety of breed in the sheep and class of wool. Upon the country and its proximity to market will depend the breed of sheep and growth of wool. Where theclimate is sufficiently cool and tho soil sufficiently rich to depasture either crossbred, or kindred types of sheep, and where proximity to suitable markets for fat stock enables the grower to obtain a fair return for the carcase, it will doubtless prove to be for his interest to rear either crossbred sheep or those stilH more closely approximating to the flocks of Great Britain. In doing this, however, care should be taken to prevent any undue coarseness of staple in the wool, as the coarser the staple the more does it enter into direct competition with wools of domestic growth. On the other hand, wheretheclimateandsoilarefoundtobeadapted to the growth of merino sound in staple and sufficiently long for combing purposes, growers will do well to refrain from attempting to alter the character of their flocks by the introduction of coarse-woolled sheep. Their efforts ought rather to be directed towards maintaining the distinctive merino character in their flocks. These remarks of course do not apply to those districts of New South Wales and Queensland, where fine clothing wools form a marked feature. For special purposes these will continue as heretofore to command a market if well grown and free from fault. 2. Washing and Scouring. — Whilo the question of shipping in a washed or greasy condition must rest with the grower according to the facilities which he possesses for tho satisfactory "getting-up" of his wool, it may be said generally that if washing with soap be resorted to, care should bo taken not to introduce into the process any soda or crude alkali, which, in conjunction with hot water, at a temperature of from 100 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, would render the wool at all harsh to the touch, or interfere with its retaining what may be termed the inherent "sparkling yolk." If simply cold water be used, caro must also be taken not to allow too great an interval to elapse between washing and shearing. If attention be not paid to this important particular, the yolk of the wool in aid; to become "set," and when inspected before sale in this market, it presents the appearance of being only partially washed. Such partial washing as is obtained by merely swimming sheep through a river or greek is likewise to be deprecated.

Equally injurious to any .cleanly-washed sheep is the permission to travel them over dusty country between the sheep-wash and the woolshed, as dust-tipped fleeces, even although the roots bo fairly clean, are deteriorated in value. If the flockmaster decide to shear his sheep in the groaso, like caro ought to be taken to separate carefully the locks and pieces from the fleece as would be done in the case of washed flocks. The greasy locks and pieces when light in condition may frequently with advantage be scoured locally, provided the necessary appliances for doing so effectively exist. It is not, however, desirable to treat greasy ileece wools similarly, as not only arc their defects more apparent when scoured, but in the process the fibres, especially those of coarse wools, become interwoven, and give trouble in separation when dealt with for manufacturing purposes. To these general observations there must necessarily be exceptions, such, for example, as in cases where, while there are no proper appliances for sheep washing, tho cost of carriage to port of shipment and the heavy condition of the clip render it undesirable to forward it in the grease. In scouring wools, whether on sheep stations or wool scouring establishments, care ought to be taken either not to use too hot water or to deprive the wool of all inherent " yolk." However clean the scour " prior to being packed for shipment, the process can never be so complete as to obviate the necessity for further treatment before the wool reaches the manufacturers' hands. It is not, therefore, desirable to expunge all tho "nature" from tho fibre, as, if this be done, it has a tendency to become harsh to the touch. 3. Relative merits of Scoured, Washed, and Greasy Wool.— lt having been shown under the preceding paragraph that unless sheep washing can be done thoroughly, and unless scouring is rendered necessary by the inability to wash the sheep or by the condition of tho wool and cost of transport to shipping ports, it is preferable to ship the fleece portion of any clip in the grease (save in the case of very superior flocks where appliances for thorough washing exist), tho advantage to be gained by the adoption of this course becomes! more apparent, if regard be paid to the following circumstances attendant on the disposal of Colonial wools in this market:— (a.) The demand for greasy wool for shipment either to the European or American continent is greater and its area of competition is pro tanto increased. (6.) The probable rendement or out-turn of clean wool can be more correctly appraised. (c.) Save in the case of superfine grades, wool in this condition has a better basis for manufacturing purposes. (d) In the case of crossbred wools, wherein certain varieties of quality are usually found, it is easier to separate and classify when these are shipped in the grease than when the admixture takes place in a washed or scoured condition. Practical evidence of the truth of these statements is found in the fact that during the past seven years there has been an increase of 16 per cent, in the quantity of greasy Australasian wool disposed of in the London salerooms, as compared with that in a washed or scoured condition. . 4. Lambs' Wool.— As to the propriety of shearing lambs instead of allowing them to remain unshorn until they become hoggets, there may obviously exist considerable difference of opinion, and flockmasters, in arriving at a correct conclusion on this subject, will naturally be guided by the exigencies of their runs and the peculiarity of each season. Leaving, therefore, the question of shearing to be settled according to local requirements, it may be stated generally that lambs' wool ought, as a rule, to be shipped in the grease rather than in a washed, or especially in a scoured, condition. Where runs are infested with burrs, or when shearing has taken place after the shedding of grass seed, these defects are rendered more prominent by the process #of washing or scouring. For the purposes for which lambswool used whon in the grease it can be better worked, and it therefore commands a relatively higher price. 5. Woolshed Operations.— (a) Shearing.— Second cuts by shearers ought not to be allowed, as the staple is thereby injured, especially in combing wools. (&) Bellies, as well as pieces and locks, ought to be kept separate from the remainder of the fleece, and, where the flock is sufficiently large to warrant the distinction, belly pieces may be packed separately from other pieces'. (c) The fleece portion of black wool should be kept distinct from other fleece wool, and if quantity be not sufficient to fill a bale, tho bale can be divided and branded part black, the division line being carefully marked on the outside of the pack. (d) Broken fleeces and burry or seedy parts should be carefully separated from sound fleeces and those comparatively free from such defects.

(c) Classification.— The tendency towards too minute classification is very great, and except in the case of superfine wools or very large flocks, the distinction between combing and clothing in the case of merino wools, and between coarse and fine crossbred is all that, as a general rule, is needed, care being, however, taken that each bale contains throughout wool of uniform description. Where it is needful to pack in one bale wool differing in quality or condition, care should be taken to have such bale described and branded as "mixed." Instead of branding the bales combing and clothing, it maybe found politic to distinguish qualities both on bales and in specifications by letters of the alphabet, A, B, C, &c. The reason for this is that much of the Wool marked in the colonial sheds as clothing is suitable for the use of foreign combers. They, however, when in search of combing wool naturally do not inspect bales branded and catalogued " clothing." Hence their competition for such wool, which they may have failed to inspect on its intrinsic merits, is lost. (/.) The fleeces after being carefully nkirted, and after the removal of all daggings and faulty parts, ought to be regularly folded or if needful rolled, but in no case should they be tied with string or any substitute for same. The use of ties causes much trouble to manufacturers in extraction, while, if not extracted, damage to their machinery pay ensue. ((j.) Pressing and Dumping.— Side pressed bales, which are still shipped from New South Wales and Queensland, should be discontinued as soon as it is practicable to do so. Wools received in such bales can never be shown to the same advantage as those received in bales packed from one end. Tho latter are likewise more compact in shape, and do not suffer so much by pressure on board ship. While in the process of dumping there is no injury to the staple, it is unquestionably a disadvantage to have loosoly pressed bales exposed to the severe pres&ure involved in dumping three bales together on board export vessels. When bales so dumped are .shown for sale in the London wool warehouses, they are rendered so unsightly by the process that the competition of dealers— who are important factors in the rale- room -is practically lost. Manufacturers being alive to this position, naturally regulate their bids accordingly. If great care be not taken that all .scoured wool is thoroughly dry before being packed, and if tho bales should thereafter bo duuiped,the contents

will on being opened in the woolwarehouses here bo so caked, sodden, and stained, as not only to prevent satisfactory inspection, but distinctly to deteriorate value. If greasy wools be subjected to a like process mucnoi the yolk is expressed and either lodges m tne packs or escapes through evaporation. In either case the net weights of the bales are sensibly decreased. , 6. Scoured Wool Rollers.-- Allusion has been made under clause (f) to the disadvantages attendant on the use of ties for the fleeces in the case of washed wools. Similar exception may bo taken to the use of hemp on the rollers in the case of scoured wools. It is with much difficulty that hemp or any liko extraneous substance can be separated from wool in a scoured condition, and notwithstanding all care on the part of manufacturers it has occasionally happened that the presence of such foreign material was only discovered when the cloth was put under process of dyeing.