WOOL-CLASSING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3216, 3 November 1915, Page 13

WOOL-CLASSING.

The following are extracts from a paper on “ Wool-classing ” read by Mr Digby B. Grist,_ before the National Sheep-breeders’ Association at the Nottingham Conference, 1915: I The title of this paper may bo misleadj ing to the ordinary farmer, as many fanners do not discriminate between ** classing ing ” is used where only classing is meant. So let me say right away that classing is the first process to be applied to the fleece, and is a work that any farmer, shepherd, or man of ordinary intelligence can do. Sorting, however, is a trade’ that no one can attempt unless he has served his time to a wool stapler, wool merchant, or manufacturer who buys 'his own wool and sorts it for the different kinds of clotn he makes. To furthei define these two processes, I would say that “classing fleeces” merely means keeping the coarse from the fine, i the long from the short, the dirty from I the clean, and the heavy from the light. These four simple classmgs speak for themI selves. Anybody with ordinary observation I can decide whether a fleece is fine or coarse, short or long, light in condition or heavy. The condition of a fleece is determined by the amount of natural grease yolk and earthy matter is contains. If deficient in those respects it will be dry and light. If these four simple points were borne in mind by the farmer when shearing he would see at a glance, by throwing the fleece on a table or bench, which class it belonged to, and at the same time he would also be able to break off any hairy or dirty trimmings which may bo adhering to the fleece. It is of the utmost importance to keep the hairy leg portions out of the fleece. Those only amount to a few ounces, and do incalculable damage to the whole fleece where they are treated as some farmers treat them—namely, rolled in a ball and included in | the fleece. When shearing they are no trouble to take off and keep separate. I With regard to these trimmings, though ! it may not be generally known, the very fact of these few ounces of kempy wool being included in the fleece brings down the value of the whole, whereas if kept out a greater price is given for the bulk, and the trimmings, if sold separately, com- | mand a good market, as there are mcrj chants who only deal in this inferior wool. I The processes I have enumerated constitute classing, and any farmer who takes the trouble to grasp the simplicity of it will readily see that it takes no longer to do up wool in this way than in the wayhe has been accustomed to, especially as there is no need to continue the old-fashioned way of windnig the fleece or of tying ,it with string. All that is required is t?iat the fleeces should be neatly rolled up, with one end tucked in to keep it intact. Wool-sorting is another process altogether. It is the breaking up of the fleece into many sorts to suit the manufacturer, which subject need not be touched upon here. The advantages of classing wool wore early recognised by Australian pioneers, and in the very early days ot this colony it was discovered that those who paid the most attention to this very necessary process obtained better average prices for their wool. The get-up of wool in Australia has passed through seveial evolutions, the original wool-growers following the custom of English farmers in cold water washing the sheep. All wool that came from the Antipodes in the early days was treated m this way, and in the London catalogues the plain word “ combing ” was used to designate this class, all others having a prefix such as “ greasy combing,” “ scoured combing,” etc. The extension of the sheep-growing industry from the coast and well-watered districts to the dry plains and pastures of the interior created difficulties, and at many stations it was found that sufficient water did not exist to wash the sheep thoroughly, so an experiment was tried in sending the wool to Europe in the grease. Manufacturers soon adapted themselves to the altered conditions, and eventually preferred the greasy wool to the washed, as it enabled them to treat the fleeces from the commencement and obtain better results by the greater or lesser quantity of grease left in the staple. The change was also agreeable to the grower, as it saved working the sheep at the cold water runs, and sheep can never be worked in large quantities without loss, and at the same time saved labour—a most important matter in a new colony where men are scarce. It was natural when all parties were in agreement that the days of washing wool were numbered, and at the present time out of the million and a-ha!f or two million bales that came from Australia only a few

hundred bales of an exceptional fine breed of merino _ come to London in a washed state. It is true this merino wool realises extraordinary prices—up to 4s or 5s per lb, —but the sheep are small, as a rule. du« to the donate being cold, and they do not _ pay lilje the larger framed and heavier fleeced animals of warmer districts. A good deal of wool is scoured on stations long distances away from railroads to save expense in carting; but when practical it is always sent in its natural condition. The system of classing has been carried to groat lengths on the larger holdings in Australia, whore from 100.000 to 200.0Q0 sheep are shorn Classers know their work, and it must be clearly understood that in large flocks wool cannot bo overclassed, as both here and on the Continent manufacturers specialise in certahi qualities, and the nearer they can buy wool to the quality they want the more they will give for it. It may be better explained by stating that some buyers only use Lincoln and Leicester wools, while others confine their operations entirely to crossbred sorts, others to merinos. Wether and ewe wool have also their separate admirers; so it can bo easily understood that when all kinds are sold to a dealer in bulk unclassed he gives an average price, and by classing the fleeces obtain* the profit that might go to the grower, who could easily do this for himself. The question of skirting is also a most important one. and the system that prevails to a large extent among lamb-raising flocks of rolling all skirts and ends in the fleeces is antiquated and pernicious, as it means the buyer has to estimate the quantity of inferior wool which ho cannot see. and this estimate >s seldom on the wrong side, and must toll very much against the interest ■of the seller in the long run. The colonial markets are visited by buyers from at! parts of the world —soma to buy greasy wool, some to buy scoured, some to buy fine wools some to buy coarse, and some who confine their purchases exclusively to pieces and and surely this ; s (ho best place to offer your produce, and it is worth while to offer it in a eondit'on to meet the demands of the market. ft is a market where the man who takes the greatest care in the breeding of his sheep and the get-up of,his wool geti the highest prices, and where .competition instils into growers the spirit of emulation, which is so necessary in obtaining the bast results. Buyers from all over the world congregate at the groat wool sales held in leading e lies. Wool is sohi fro"’ New South Wales. Tasmania. Queensland. Victoria. West and South Australia, and New Zealand. The largest buyers from all parts of tho world compete for its purchase, because they have the host opportunities of getting tho kind of wool they want, and in tho quantities in which they want it, and without having at the same time to buy what they dp not want.