LINCOLN WOOL.

Waipa Post, Volume IV, Issue 170, 10 December 1912, Page 4

LINCOLN WOOL.

DEMAND FOR TWELVE-INCH FLEECES. Attention has been directed by Mr Henshaw Jackson, wool instructor of the South. Australian School of Mines, to the demand that exists for Lincoln wool over 12 inches in length. It appears that a Mr L. Levussove, in America, has been for some time investigating and experimenting in regard to the possibilities of employing long staple sheep wool in the manufacture of articles, for which hitherto only mohair has been used. Writing to the Pastoralists' Review," Mr Jackson says :—"lt will be of interest to readers to know that fleeces of Lincoln wool, when I2in, or over in length, and thoroughly sound, are worth the extraordinary price of 2s per lb. This information was in my possession some two years ago, but, until I had made some experiments in growing Lincoln wool, I was not prepared to say anything on the subject to Lincoln breeders. I have now satisfied myself that it is possible to produce Lincoln wool considerably longer than I2in, and am now about to complete the experiment by shipping a few fleeces to the manufacturers, who asked me to see what could be done in the way ot securing supplies of such long staple wool in Australia. I expect to receive 2s net per lb for this wool if it turns out satisfactorily, which I have no doubt will be the case. "From the information on the subject which I possess I am of the opinion that there is here an opening through which v breeders of Lincoln sheep can profit exceedingly on the sale of their wool. As far as I can tell, it is well worth while making this trial shipment, for if it is founc" that the wool required can be produced in decent quantities, it looks as if Lincoln breeders can make a good deal more out of their flocks in the,future than they have done in the past." Mr Levussove had an article in the September issue of the American Sheepbreeder on this subject, and among other questions he answers the following : " May fleeces shorter than I2in be used in your line of manufacture?"

"No ! Nothing shorter than I2in is wanted in our line." "Is there no danger of overproduction, and would it be safe to go into the long wool growing business on a somewhat extensive scale ?"

" This question needs a detailed answer. This is practically a new business, and nobody with intelligence will jump into it all at once on a very large scale, It is evident that if hundreds of breeders were going in for it with thousands of sheep each, and if they could produce hundreds of tons of long wool in a few months the market could not absorb all they produce from the start. " However, there is not the slightest danger of such a thing. Extra long wool does not grow in a few days, nor is it obtainable in good quality witho n t effort, knowledge, and experience. As it was the case with mohair, there will be a shortage of staple as well as of breeding animals for some years. The pioneers of the industry will have to surmount the greatest difficulties, but also they will have the most interesting work and reap the greatest profit. They will be on the ground floor, not only as wool producers, but as breeders of high-priced stock." "Is the demand for long wool likely to be a permanent one ?" "Yes; there is not a single industry in this country having so long and so steadily suffered from such a shortage- of raw material as ours. As a matter of fact, I, as a manufacturer, could double and triple the output of my establishment if I cauld only get the raw materials in sufficient quantity. It seems hardly believable, but for several years I have not spent a cent, advertising for the purpose of finding new markets for the goods I manufacture, but I have spent considerable money making known to producers that I am the buyer of long mohair and long wool fleeces.

"There are very many lines of goods where long wool may become an essential raw material, so that the universal cry of manufacturers of our line is not the difficulty of finding new markets, but that there should be an increased supply of raw materials. "This is why the growing of long sheep wool will become a highly-profitable industry." In view of the above, the opinions of New Zealand Lincoln breeders in regard to the production of staple over I2in long, and the prospects of maintaining a supply, would be of great interest.