OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 7

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

(From Otjb Special Correspondent.) BRADFORD, March 3. WARP AND WEFT. r A minister missing one of his congregation from church, called on him "one day to see what was the matter., "Well, Mr M'Nab, I was wondering what was. the matter -that you were 110b at church these few Sundays back." — "On, I have been at Air Dunlop's kirk. "—Minister: "Oh, I don't care for lny .congregation going to other churches. How would you like your sheep to go into, strange pastures and thus trespass?" — Mr M'Nab: '* Oh, I wadna care a grain if they got better

The shepherd or owner of sheep who depends upon his flock for supporb without doing much for the support of hJ3 flock •"reckons without his host. ' As the growth of any animal is made from feed, and once made becomes an inheritable quality, it is most desirable to force the lambs by the best feeding in the first three months of their life. Lamb early, feed heavy, grow fast and market early are cardinal points with the mut-ton-lamb men. They can't counterfeit the mutton lamb. He is always and everywhere the genuine article. The point of " constitution ' is one often overlooked in classing ewes or choosing rams, a^id yet it is one of the most important, a badjy-shaped, flat-sided parent too overproducing an equally faulty offspring. All ewes of this description should therefore be carefully weeded out, as any sheep showing signs of weakness either in constitution or fleece will be found to be unprofitable. It is generally accepted amongst sheepLreeders that the sire has most influence on ilie outside qualities and appearance, the dam, in a rule, affecting more the constitution and

general robustness or otherwise of the progeny. Practical breeders seem to think that it is much easier to improve the wool-producing powers of a well-grown, robust sheep than to give constitution and strength to a delicate and ill-shaped type, though the latter eorfc are often found to be very well woolled. Ticks on sheep are the most unprofitable, fitock a man can have about his place. It is worth all it costs to get rid of them, , and this is easily done by 'dipping. Its merits as a health promoter are rapidly becoming understood, and more dip is used with each passing year. There is no doubt whatever that 'the greatly increasing use of cotton, mungo, and shoddy in the production of cheap textiles under the stress of competition has very materially helped in keeping wool where it is, and especially crossbred wool. The successful wool-grower to-day, no matter in what part of the world he may live, must be a mari"*who understands the country as well as tho sheep, one who knows not only what is good wool, but also what is the best paying wool to grow in a particular locality. If a sheep's foot be carefully examined i f . will be seen that between the toes in front the skin is covered with fine hair, but between the back part of the toes, or rather Iheel, and for a little distance above, the skin Is bare of hair, or rather covering, and it is in this latter place that the first symptom of foot-rot is apparent. The skin in this back ipart i 3 hot and inflamed, and it can readily be delected by the hand without using the eyes. In the course of a day or two ibe skin in this part becomes moist, and erosion or maceration take place, and tho pain caused by friction causes the sheep to limp, while yet tlie foot, with the exception of the heels, shows no- trace of the disease.- Ulceration coon follows, extending between the horn of the hoof and the sensitive fleshy parts, forming sinuses or canals down to and along the "solo of the foot. The whole foot then becomes disorganised, but its appearance at this fctage is so well known by sheepmen that further description is unnecessary. There is no reason why wool-growing, even at present prices, should not pay haridsomely, but in order to ensure success the grower will probably have in the future, to a larger exieat than in th* sast, to call into slay the

skill, fertility of resource, and , perseverance which are so justly considered to be characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon race. In any locality, under the influence of five or six months' exposure to excessive heat, wool distinctly requires more free yolk than in an equable climate to preserve the fibre from deterioration. WOOL PRICES.

No real change can be recorded in the movement of wool this week, and all that men seem to be doing is waiting future events. A good deal of interest is centring around the opening of the London sales next week and opinion is somewhat divided as to. how wool will sell. Very little change isp looked for in the case of merinos, but men fail to see how cro3sbreds can maintain last sale's rates. However, things this week have kept rather quiet, but very steady. Spinners are open to buy, but their offers do not harmonise with topmakers' ideas, and this causes sales to he restricted. The late rate of consumption is fully maintained, and commission woolcombers are busy, and no doubt in the aggregate the turnover is larger than most men think, otherwise there is no change of note. The following table shows the full course of prices during the month just closed, and the figures given represent the general asking prices of merchants to-day : —

Description of Staple. d. i Liucoln.hogßS... ... BJj Lincoln wethers ... Bj| Deep-grown hoggs ... 8 Deep-grown wethers... 8 White super hcggs ... 8 White super wethers... 8 Irish hoggs 8J Irish wethers 8 Pick Shropshire hoggs 8} Pick Shrop. wethers... 8 Ordinary halfbred hoggs 8 Ordinary halfbred wethers 7i Wiltshire Town tegs... 10J Wiltsliire Do \vn_ ewes 10J Crdiuvly us*c, liuenos Ajre3tops I{)J Ordinary 60's, colonial tops 203 SuperGO's, colonial tops 22 Ordinary 40's, colonial tops 10| Ordinal y !36"5, colonial tops P} Turkey average mohair 18j Cape lirsts, mohair ...I 18 5 | H d. 8i 8 7f 8 8 8 7* 9 & A d."" Si 81 73 8 I! s If' a I v (M d. I, si it 73 8 7J 8 7f «i 8 £ rf s -a I 2 1A d. d. 8} 81 Si 8i 71 . 7i 7? 7* 8 8 7J 7* 8 8 7J 7} 8J 84 8 8 7J 74 71 74 10l! 104 101! 101 I ]9J| 191 20J! £01 21 J 21J iOJ 10J 9}! 01 IS j 18 7i 7i 74 71 i '74 104 10} 711 iei| JOi! i 19J lJ»i l»i 20} 22 20J 21i 201 211 10| 101 1 i 9J 18J 18 18" 174 18 174: