Judging Scoured Wool.

Otago Witness, Issue 1989, 10 April 1890, Page 12

Judging Scoured Wool.

Editor Witness.— Sir: "Excellence of scouring" was to have been " the sole test of merit " In judging wool at the exhibition. It has not been so. I scoured the two bales exhibited by Messrs Dalgety and Co , which are exactly similar in every respect, only marked differently. One of these bales was awarded second honours; the other was passed unnotloed. I have now had an opportunity of comparing the first prize bale, scoured by Mr Yorke, of Woolstone, with mine, and have no hesitation la saying that there has either been an egregious blunder somewhere, or that the jurors were Incapable. The first prize wool is dull in colour and " ropey," but very fine, and this alone has evidently guided the jurors in their decisions. Everyone possessing a knowledge of wool who has seen the different samples says there is no comparison between them as to brightness and cleanness. One of the beat judges of merino wool in the Australian colonies writes to me as follows :— " Be wool.— With the exception of fineness, Yorke's wool has nothing to recommend it as scoured wool ; colour and condition are not to be compared to yours." I'he bales scoured by me having wen removed from the exhibition, I have sent samples of them to the office of the Otago Daily Times, and shall be glad if experts will compare them with the firitprize bale, still in the exhibition, and judge forthemselves as to the justice of the awards. I may state that I scoured wool from the same station (Oamarama), which took first prizes at the Melbourne, Ohrlstchurch, and Adelaide Bxhibitlons, and< at the Crystal Palace International Wool Show*. London.— l am, 4c, Maheno, April 7. Thomas Walker.