OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2744, 17 October 1906, Page 7

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

(Frou'Oitr Own Cobrespohdent.)

BRADFORD. August 24. GROWING GOOD FLEECES'.

Dropping the wool is a frequent trouble v. ith sheep. There aio many different explanations for this annoyance to tho fleck master, hut few of these hint at tho fact that wool must be fod or it cannot grow, and any failure in its nutrition must result in such a weakness that tho fleece fail.% to keep its connection with the bkin, and thus drops off as if it .wore severed — as it really is -at its root. The fleece of a huiufred-pound sheep makes up to 10 per cent, or more of the animal's weight, and it consists cf a far greater pioportion of the most exacting elements of nutjition than the fioih of tho sheep does. Flesh has 75 per cent, of water in it ; wool has only 15 per cent. Tho flesh has in its diy matter tho following elements, and wool has the qualities set opposite to tlipm. Thus, the composition of flesh is:— Carbon, 51.83 per cent!; hydrogen. 7.57; nitrogen, 15.01; oxygen, 21.37; ashes, 4.23. Wool : —Carbon, 49.65 per cent.; hydrogon, 7.93; nitrogen, 17.31; oxygen, 22.21; ashes, 2.0; sulphur, 2.0. Taking into account that the wcol has only one-fifth as much water in it as the flesh, it is easily noon that it requires fho times as much of the elements of nutrition for each pound weight as the flesh, and thus, if the fleecs of the merino weighs 151b, aud tho carcase, after shearing, weighs 751b, equal quantities of food aie required for the production of each. As the fleece must be supplied after the animal itself, tho wool suffers while the sheep escape*, and as tho wool cannot exist without its necessary accompaniment of the yolk and grease, which nrturally protect it from injury by tho rains, heat, and cold, this is to bo considered as. calling for requisite nuiriment, as well as the actual body of tho aninial

Every time the sheep w underfed it appears in the wool, the fibre of which shows a thin place in it. Tho weakness in the fibie is ruinous to the wool, as it cau?cs it to break in tho carding or combing. This defect is known by tho woollen manufacturers and buyers as "break," and makes it unsaleable. Consequently, thft matter of feeding and the regularity of it are special points to 1,0 regarded by the shepherd. Yet it must not bo supposed that the woo! only .suffers ; the sheep must necessarily suffer, for the daniage to the wool is only one of the \isible Tigris of injuty to the whole animal. The modernised sheep — fhe animal which finds tho boot fa^o^l^ upon our farms of to-tlay — must bo both a mutton anil woolLearing animal, for the giowur of wool finds, that he no more must giow his flocks for ono purpose, either wool or mutton. We, therefore, are ne«.os«arilv apprised of the fa-ct that this means the growing of a good mutton brood bearing upon its back a good fleece. We find gome of our be=t mutton sheep of to-day producing as profitable a fleece as those kept exclusively for wool-growing, an<s al«o producing lambs which are much superior. We are -not compelled to grow about three classes of animals in order to grow mutton, wool, and lambs, but have tho combination all placed before us in one class, which is both practicable and profitable to the flockmaster.

"Wo find that one of the great essentials of a good fleece is ite density or compactness, which not only affords us a belter ■yield. but ensures us a much hardier animal, inasmuch as the density of wool afford-, it a much stronger protection against sudden changes of weather which they mint endure. Wo ha\e noted that it is the tendem y of our mutton breeders in combining the wool-growing qualities to carry the fleece well o\«r the face and limbs, and while wo do net holio\o that there is much advantage in this, yet wo ha\o noticed, and had r>)o\cd to in many times, that the annual which glows wool well o\er the face ami lower line i"» always a heavy p;odueor of wool from the main portion of the bod}', and hence prcducc-s us a much more cl&n=o fleece, and of greater weight ; while, on the other hand, our J."ry»*ik which cany their wool well ud above *h« lino and fchow a tendency cf bare face aie equally light pioluceis, with wool usually not u« compact.

From these facts wo rcvhlv rctermino that th r "-o breeders lia\c no bad fault in their practice, and i:> -• mutton brcjd which chows this propensity toward wool bearing, and jet kc-pping he> .-i.se of th*_ t arcane in mind, is Louud to become a popular breed.

There arc other things to Loop ii mind, however, in tho growJh of good wool. Among these are length of fibre, stiengtli of frame and fiuene-ss. These characteristics lorgely determine the market \alue of a fleece, and aro ho-,t < onsiderod in ■-electing the breeding stock. While tho-.e essentials greatly determine the profitable career of a tlock yet the c:ue which they receive is readily shown in t'io toxiurc of tho wool rlin, for a <.hccp that i-j ill fed. especially during tho winter poa*on, and allowed to "become unthrifty, will not grow a god fleece. it is kcueially known by sheep

men that the softness and pliancy of a fleeoo is largely influenced by the secretions of the skin, and to have the proper amount of this secretion si all times, the coat of wool must cover a healthy and well fed body. But very few sheep are, properly, good wool producers after five years ; hence our finest grade of evenlyfibred wool comes necessarily from animals which are in their prime, when the yolk or oily fluid, which gives softness, pliancy, and lustre to the fleece, is kept stimulated by a healthy constitution. The composition of this fluid consists of animal oil and potash principally, and has a tendency to prevent wearing of the fibre, and also promotes its growth. These eecretions, we find, are much more abundant under high temperature, which is greatly influenced by geed care and good feeding during the winter season.

The skins from which wool is pulled have an important commercial value, and ie is the aim of pullers, of course,- to remo\c tho wol from the pelt by such process as will cause the least impairment possible to the skins. Sheep skins were never so largely used as they are to-day, and they wore never put to such varied uses. They are utilised for purposes which render it necessary that they shall be handled so that the surface of the skin shall not be rotted. At present the wool is removed from the skin by what is called the depilatory process. Tin's process does not impair the eiuality of the skin. Years ago the method of sweating the skin was practised, which practically rotted the wool out of tho skin. Tho pelts were hung up in vaults in which the steaming process was introduced. The outer surface of tho skin, in which tho wool fibres were embedded, was thus rotted, rendeting the removal of the wool quite- easy. This process was succeeded by the lime process — the application of a mixture of lime and -.rsenic. The mixture was' applied to the outer surface of the pelt, and was applied with a bru-h.

That the sheep is de e erving of good care and keep is self-evident. He is ever busy growing wooi, making meat, and raising increase If neglected unto death tho pelt loft has a market value. Of all tho animals, the cheep seems to appeal to man for kind treatment. Under domestication Le ha* bocomo the emblem of innocence. If he had not ceoa tamed to man's sub mission iiis instincts would never have led him to regions like ours. Since man has appropriated it to his use, it would seem that human feeling and sympathy would reefdire that we deal kindly towards it. The obligation eecms like a duty, pud its violation would seem to involve barbarian cruelty. BUYING FROM HAND TO MOUTH.

The wool market this week has ar^in seen very many familiar faces absent, holidays yet being the order of the day. The fact of the matter is, most business men see "nowt" to stop at home for, and they might as well be off getting braced up for tho future a.3 be lolling about home witii their hands in their pockets Business continues extremely bad to do, and transactions are very limited. Considering that tho turnover is so small, it is surprising ho\v steady values remain, but where a man buys anything he can operate at tho lowest point yet touched. All quotations to-day are- more or less nominal, and topmaJvcrrf are trying to keep v.p and maintain a fairly strong front in face of goraswhat adverse circumstances. Transactions in raw wool are somewhat small — in fact, business is bad to. Plenty of direct importers arc now offering to sell forward at loss than current quotations, and (his more or less unsettles everything. From wool merchant right up to the manufacturer, a policy of .hand to mouth has been inaugurated, and it does not seem as 'f this will be departed from yet awhile. Spinners say that they are going to work up to the la-t ball of tops before they buy any racne. While that no doubt is a figurative expression, still if the temper of the market does not change users arc only going to buy as they ax*© forced, and then but in small ciuantities.

We wero very pleased to hear last week a big yarn export house affirm that they found crossbred* "very firm." and that so far (iiey tuul not been able to out:; in any confession in price. That morning they had been trying to place an er«lor for 10,0001b weight of 2.40's yarn, and would h.i\c bought at 2s Id per lb. Every spinner they approached wanted a penny more. This shows conclusively that business is still good in their hands, and spinning f i. -lines everywhere arc fully employ©.!. This laeans that consumption is being maintaincJ combed wool being put away Commission woolcombers say they are nos making as good deliveries as they might do. particularly in Botanies, fine tops seeming to ".-tick" more than crcHsbreds. English wools aru not selling at all freely, and tlv*o ;hou)d now be going into con.-ump-tion in place- of New Zealand descriptions. Hopes are .still lifcld of some recovery befcie next London tales. Mohair is by no means active, though spinne's have al! going, and prices are firm.