OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2394, 18 January 1900, Page 7

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

(From Oue Special Co-respondent.) HO. 2,— STANDARD POINTS FOR JUDGING FLEECES. In discussing this subject last week we considered the number of points given to density of fleece, which were 16, and evenness and fulness of covering, which wai 20. We now come to look at the oilier first-class 'essentials which must always be present in a fleece before it can be considered perfect and reallygood. Let'us, therefore, look at them. In "brightness, softness, and yolk, we have characteristics which may really be classed ■under one head — namely, that of " condition." And what Avoolgrower is there that does not known the value of condition in his shorn clip? Condition is the outward dress in which' the . Etaple shall be presented to the customer ; it is the finishing touch which the owner puts on before sending it forth to stand on its merits in the markets of the world ; in one word, it is the sine qua non required in every clip if it shall do the grower credit, and bring to him a relative! y paying price. Condition, while not being the Alpha and the Omega of every clip, is certoinly a first-class essential, and by every buyer considered of supreme importance when he is estimating the value which any wool is worth. And what is there of more moment in going to make up condition than a nice bright, soft, attractive staple? . Even a wool that has been well grown so far j as length and soundness is concerned, but is ' dingy and unattractive, will fetch relatively less than a wool that is bright and inviting. It has been the writer's experience during the past 20 years to just a few lots of wool, and oftentimes have we seen what ! was in other respects a most excellent lot j of wool literally spoiled by the dingy appearance which the wool pivjsnted. Oould it liave been possible to have rid the fleece of that which made it look gloomy and pad ere it was -offered for public competition, and { ive should have been able to have seen that wool fetch an ail-round penny more per j pound. South African wools on this one I point err far more often than those of Aus- ; tralasia, while South American wools are often sadly wanting cm this one head. In brightness, softness, and yolk we find ■wrapped up exactly what generally indicates a real first-class wool. Brightness usually signifies that the staple has been grown under very favourable conditions. There has been plenty of feed for the sheep ; its surroundings have been profitable and most advantageous towards keeping the animal in a stale of health ; it has been keot free from disease, both by outward as well as inward applications of those requisites which "go to ensure a good crop of wool : and as the fleece of any sheep always speak the truth by being a sure indication of the health and condition of the animal all through the year, we may rest certain that a "bright, attractive fleece is not only pleasing, but eminently satisfactory from the buyer's standpoint. When wool is not bright and free from dirt and filth it is then that we see an. air of uncertainty about buyers' bids, or rather being uncertain as to the " clean yield," they reduce their limits to .what they think is " safe "in their interests. . Then softness is always a, twin sister to brightness,- and 'a -nice, feoft, silky Staple is a sure indication of "quality and breed "in any flock. There is nothing more repulsive to a practical man than to feel a wool handling - hard and brittle, and this is al,ways followed by a want of that life-giving property of yolk, elasticity, and strength. ■But a nice, soft, kind, silky staple always appeals to every buyer in the most pleasing ananner posnible, and when one hears a man * say how well it " feels " we may rest assured Jt 18 satisfactory elsewhere. Let growers look to the quality and breed of their wool, and then they may rest assured they have something the trade want 3.

In yolk we have something that sheepmen can never dispense with, and a fleece without yolk is simply impossiWe. Some senseless fellows have tried to produce wool fibres without yolk, but I shotild not like to buy such wool. Yolk is indispensable, for it always means a healthy sound wool fibre ancl staple. Yolk can always be scoured out of the wool, but an excessive quantity is rather objectionable, owing to its weight in the fleeces. WOOL AGAIN DEARER. Market conditions in Bradford may be considered first class, and wools more active than for a good long time back. Another point past in the onrushing tide can be chvonic.ed, and still the maxinuim has not yet been reached. Some solid progress can be reported since we last wrote, and the work done shows better returns and higher prices made than have yet been obtained since wool and tops began to move upward. A good many topmakers have deliberately withdrawn what small stocks of combings they had from off the market till prices move further upward, and to-day 2s 8d is being asked for a good average 60' s top, while as high as 2s B^d, and in some instances 2s 9d is being demanded for a 64-'s grade. Last week's price of 2s 7d is no longer running, and not a few are sanguine enough to believe that 2s 9d will soon be the price for a super 60's top. Be that as it may, conditions, so far as consumption is concerned, is at the maximum, and only an absolute scarceness of fine wool can bring the price up to 3s, which some prophets affirm will be "reached before another new Australian clip is available. Perhaps the most important movement this last week has been the strong demand for 40's crossbred, and a big turnover has been effected. There is now no doubt that crossbreds are receiving more attention/ and higher prices are certain, this being "caused by the extreme 'dearness of fine woolf. Our manufacturers are still at sea, with regard to the future, and spinners will not accept orders for yarns only in. the most reasonable weights, and since last week prices have been put up 2d per lb. Even crossbred qualities have been similarly advanced, and these are being drawn upon for substitution more freely and extensively than ever. Spinners say their position is an increasingly difficult one. owing to their inability to bxiy on two market days alike, but at the same time they are getting higher yarn prices than ever they did. Those who have not covered are really in a sorry plight, and some are actually offering manufacturers a good premium to buy back, or release them from their contracts. Both spinners and manufacturers are exceptionally busy.