WOOL INDUSTRIES RESEARCH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19803, 19 May 1934, Page 15

WOOL INDUSTRIES RESEARCH

RECENT DISCOVERIES ELIMINATING THE “TICKLE” The annual report of the Wool Industries Research Association at Torridon, Leeds, describes the work that has been in progress during the past year. A, far-reaching discovery is in regard to unshrinkability. In addition to adding this desirable quality to the wool fibre, diligent research has succeeded in removing'’the prickly feeling in wool. The treatment now discovered adds lustre to the wool. The method is to be kept secret for the members of the Research Association. “Its success,” states the report, “is the outcome of advances in technique in an entirely different industry. From the weaver’s point of view, actual experience of all types of people who have worn such garments has alrealy afforded ample confirmation of the desirable qualities of the clothingmade therefrom.” Chief chemists of London stores and members of the hosiery trade are commenting very highly on this discovery. Adequate methods of assessment and sampling fleeces to indicate their subsequent manufacturing performance have been devised for use under farm conditions. In co-operation with Dominion workers, indentification of the different species of burrs in wool has been accomplished, and steps taken to counter their occurrence as far as economically possible. It is stated that the blending of wool in relation to the spinning power of the top is in progress with samples of wool from seven different districts of Australia and from South Africa.

An important discovery relates to the setting of crepe yarn. To prevent the curl and snarl specially made tops have been designed, and this means that British firms are able to compete better with low-priced foreign cloths because quicker delivery can be made of goods woven from these crepe yarns, it being unnecessary to wait for the yarn to mature. Wool Packs Mention is also made of the fluid for sheep branding which is completely removable in subsequent processing. This has been tested under Dominion range conditions and complete success has been obtained. These fluids are now available in bulk in all wool-growing countries. At the present time bulk trials ai-e being prosecuted under Dominion conditions with a new type of jute and latex wool pack. Sample packs, which have been sent to Australia, New Zealand, and Africa, are treated specially to prevent the shedding of jute hairs into the wool. In regard to nutrition for sheep, lack of soundness and variation in character due to drought, etc., have been studied under farm conditions, and the association has found it possible to give sheep a simple supplementary food ration during times of fodder scarcity, sufficient to maintain the bodily functions, leaving the natural fodder available for wool production. The control of humidity in the mills is one of great interest and importance, and the association has developed a system of humidity control which is capable of function in any size of room or factory. An interesting fact in this connection is that the association’s advice has been sought even by the confectionery and tobacco industries. Henry Ford on Herd-Testing Henry Ford stresses that dairy farmers ignore the tremendous burden of loss at the source of supply. He says: “The basic fact remains that the milk which they sell, before it leaves the farm is burdened with a charge which does not belong there. This charge is for the cost of keeping the one tow which does not pay for her board in about every three which the dairy farmer owns. “Common sense would seem to indicate that the crying need is for an organisation or agency of some kind that would have for its purpose the elimination of the low producing cows. "Business history fails to reveals that any merchant, manufacturer, or industrial enterprise ever made a success by ignoring costs of operation and concentrating all energy on the marketing of the product.” Pork Versus Bacon All the knowledge that has been gained in this country through pig recording has been associated with pork. It is known in consequence now that excellent pork carcases can be produced in New Zealand but as no investigation has been made into bacon production there is nothing to guide the New Zealand producer now finding it profitable to export baconer carcases. It only seems the other day that Lord Bledisloe advised New Zealand dairy farmers, to prepare for the trade in bacon pigs, as the opportunity for developing a good trade in bacon with Britain would soon arrive. The opportunity has already arrived but the New Zealand farmer is certainly not prepared for it. Much investigation is required, and the pig-recording clubs, with their very limited opportunities, will have to get busy.