OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 14

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) BRADFORD, August 27. MEANING OF MEDIUM-T 0 GOOD WOOLS. Probably the bulk of the merino wools grown throughout Australia come under the category of good and medium greasy. Those two terms are somewhat elastic in their application; but all the same, they mean a great deal, and include probably 75 per cent, of the raw material grown in the Commonwealth. A very large proportion of South Australian rperinos come under that designation. I have explained before than this State produces some really excellent topmaking wools, renowned for the depth and sliaftincss of the staple, combined with length, and in good normal seasons bulk and length will be more noticeable in these wools than in any produce grown in any other State. No doubt the ■,la.-:.; of sheep depastured and also climatic conditions conduce to the pioduction of tins class of staple. Of course, every woolgrower worth his salt makes an effort to produce a fleece which can be styled very go.,d; but often there are forces a.gainst him which have an influ jnco upon woolpiodnction, and the sheep, when shorn, turn - off fleeces which can be called only good and medium wools. But even for these the trade is thankful. Of course, at a time like the present, when war c-on-dtions prevail, and when everybody is wanting the best in order to facilitate free and quick working-up, viic demand naturally runs upon something very good; but for rank-and-file purposes, good and medium wools arc a useful commodity. They cannot be passed by, and a sensible userwill never attempt to do so. The production of each State in the Commonwealth varies somewhat, and the characteristics found, say, in West Australian wools vary very much from what they do in the wools produced in the south-eastern district of South Australia or West Victoria; while the wools grown m New Soutn V\ ales and Queensland differ very much indeed from those produced in South Australia. As already indicated, this is entirely due to the class of sheep depastured, principles of breeding, as well as to climatic conditions; but when all is said and done, tire wools, while varying, suit equally well the ent purposes of manufacture to which they arc put.

Looking; more minutely at medium-to-good wools, I find as a rule that there is no depreciation in quality, 64’s alike being produced in all the different States of the Commonwealth, including New Zealand. No doubt the breed of sheep is the prime cause in dctcrnvning quality, together with the season. Everybody knows that in a dry time the merino turns off a much finer fleece than when on good pastures throughout the entire growing period, and a reasonable amount ot dry weather docs net affect the fleece clisadvantagecudy. I have known, say, throe or four months of _ dry weather lead to a very good clip indeed being turned out; but six to eight months of drought is what everyone dreads, it affecting seriously the character of the fleece. However, drought largely defies human in torferenco. The forthcoming now clip from Australia is spoken of as certain to be drought-affected, and it will bo loan in quality and staple, 't hen, too, wo have the question of vegetable matter, this also contributing materially to the production of medium-to-good wool. I have seen many a time what was otherwise a first-class clip spoilt by the presence of huge amounts of burr and seed. A d p offered at the July scries of London sales showed a magnificent length. It was beautifully grown, very sound, but so impregnated with burr that it lost 2d per lb, there being very few buyers indeed for the wool. Probably’ it suffered through a lack of Continental competition, because Bradford combers are so filled with wool that to-day they are refusing to comb very burry parcels. Lhcn, again, if sheep arc depastured upon very red, sandy soil, the fleece becomes so impregnated with dust and sand that it is a very strong contributing factor in reducing the’ excellence of the fleeces and bringing them down to an average class. These are all factors which, as previously said, play an important part in determining what a, clip will be; and wool-growers serve their own best interests by eliminating as much as possible all the drawbacks, and improving conditions of growing, for by so doing the fleece will reap a direct benefit. USES OF MEDIUM WOOLS. This is a very important part of the subject, and one that is deserving of serious consideration. The great volume of business that is done in the textile world is not in the superior fabrics which arc made, but what may be called “ bread-and-butter lines.” This sychronises with the production of medium-class wools, and I find here a very big outlet. It is as well that this is so; and, when all is said and done, medium-to-good wools produce goods which, if not lowered in intrinsic value by the admixture of inferior materials, produce fabrics which are really excellent. It is the bulk trade of the world for which medium wools arc the most suitable, and into this they go ad lib. I should say that the biggest business in Bradford and on the Continent is done in the production of medium-quality tops, all produced from the wools we have under consideration. The reader will see that if specialties are wanted, superior wools are called upon, and when special prices are paid, it is for wool intended for the production of these superior linos of fabrics. If wo take serges as representing a big volume of business, they arc entirely made from these medium wools; and it is remarkable, though not generally known, that medium and fine crossbreds arc used for the bulk of the serge and coating fabrics that are produced. The method- of finishing these goods to-day is such that it needs an expert man to tell from what quality the fabrics, are made, and if a higher standard is wanted, tho_ cloths are made from medium-quality merinos. The great hosiery trade also consumes medium materials, the bulk of the wools used —at least the yarns spun from the wool —consisting of medium qualities; houce the reader will see that the very life and soul of the industry is the outcome of these medium-to-good wools; and as long as the textile trade lasts, they will form by fur the strongest feature of the industry. AUSTRALIA’S NEW SEASON. The announcement of a sale on Saturday in Adelaide, and the now season opening on September 30, directs attention to the fact that a new Australian clip is being shorn, and that big quantities will shortly bo available. There seems to bo a con-

census of opinion that tho new clip will be deficient in growth and more wasty than usual, although some entertain the view that liic rain that has fallen since May will have to some extent improved it, and possibly partly made up for tho deficiency of the earlier-grown wool. Still, once a portion of the fleece is spoilt during growth, tho loss can never be repaired. As a rule, when sheep are moved from good to lean pastures, a break in the fibre occurs, which, every practical woolman knows, means in creased noilago. However, the trade is hoping to see a good season, and there is certainly a prospect of good buying, especially if America comes to tho rescue and continues her active operations in Australia. BRADFORD MARKET. Tho holiday season proper being- practically over, members of the Bradford trade are beginning to assume a more businesslike humour. Attendances on tno Exchange have become huger, and feelings of some expectancy now exist. Tho actual volume of the top business lias not increased. Tho largest amount of buying by spinners is being done in merino qualities, and values arc about maintained on their recent level. Tho weights of fine tons sold are still mostly small, sellers often being willing to accept the minimum prices current—namely, 3s 4d for an average 6-Vs. On the other hand, there arc several strong holders in the market who are unwilling to accept le.-s than 3s 6d per lb for the same quality, and the existence of large inquiry for drycombed tops for expo it is strengthening the hands of those parties. No real alteration has taken place in crossbreds. Fine qualities are most active, and showing comparatively the greatest strength in values. Some are looking forward to the placing of Government fabric orders, and spinners have boon buying tops in anticipation of this demand being roabs-ed; otherwise there is nothing new in this description, though expectation is lively on the question of the exportation of wool, tops, end yarns to tho United States and friendly neutral countries.