WOOL RESEARCH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 150, 27 June 1931, Page 8

WOOL RESEARCH

HAIRINESS IN THE FLEECE WORK AT MASSEY COLLEGE AN ADDRESS TO FARMERS. Demonstrating the Benzol test, and giving a discourse of the many wool research projects now being conducted at. the Massey Agricultural College at Pal nierston, Messrs R. Waters and B. L. Elphick, gave a most interesting talk to a large attendance of farmers at the Wanganui Winter Show yesterday afternoon. Introducing the gentlemen, Mr F. G. Sudden, secretary of the Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral Association, said that for some long time past the I'armors’ Union Agricultural Associa lion and the Romney Marsh Breeders' Club had been endeavouring to arrange for a demonstration and talk of this kind and it was with much pleasure that he welcomed them there that afternoon. Mr T. Currie, president of tho Wanganui executive of the Farmers’ Union, also extended a welcome to tho two visitors. Wanganui, in addition to Auckland, he said, had rather a bad name with the wool buyers. It was up to every farmer in this district to win back the good name of Wanganui wool and it was hoped that by the demonstration and talk that afternoon the farmers would gain some appreciation of tho valuable work that was being carried on by the Wool Research De partment of the Massey Agricultural College. Medulatted Wool. Mcdulatted wool or hairiness in the fleece was tho subject dealt with at length by Mr Elphick. Ono of the ‘chief objections to this hairiness, he said, was that the manufacturers were not able to adjust their machinery to deal with a mixture of hair and wool. The hair was weak and brittle and did not possess the same elasticity as that of pure wool. On account of the structure of its scales it would not take dye nor would it “felt down.” The hair or medulatted wool contained air cavities along the axis of the fibres and the speaker projected.on to a screen several microscopic slides illustrating its structure.

Benzol Test. A test had been discovered which would enable this medulatted wool to be distinguished from pure wool and a-' the medulatted wool was in many ways undesirable it was hoped that sheep without this class of wool could be bred. In order to show exactly how the test was carried out, the speaker took a small piece of wool, scoured it in petrol, and having teased it out, placed it in the liquid benzol which was poured into a black tray. On being placed in the liquid the pure wool immediately became invisible while the medulatted, or hairy fibre could be clearly discerned. The test, continued the speaker, was quite simple and could be carried out in a farmer’s woolshcd or yards. The value of the test was that it assisted the farmer in his judgment of the sheep he was using for breeding. While it was desirable that sheep should be bred with as little medulatted wool in the fleece as possible, yet it was also important that in doing so the qualities, constitution, conformation, fleece, type and density of the wool were not thereby sacrificed. It was no use breeding animals with pure wool if they did not possess the virility to thrive. Concerning the testing of the sheep, continued the speaker, it. was necessary to take more than one test staple from fleece for medulatted wool. He described a sheep as being akin to a spotty dog in respect to the irregular distribution of the medulatted fibres all over the body. It must not be considered that tho Benzol test could be taken as a panacea of all the present difficulties of breeding but there was no doubt that when used with proper descretion it could be extremely valuable. Forecasting the Fleece. The study of genetics of the various fibres of the New Zealand Romney Marsh sheep was being pursued with a view to the possible forecast of the nature of an adult fleece from the study of the lamb’s fleece. When the lamb was born the fleece often contained a large percentage of kemps. As the lamb became older these kemps, which fell out, were frequently, but not always, followed by further crops of kemps and experiments were now being carried out at Massey College, which it. was hoped w’ould lead to the safe methods of forecasting the nature of the growing fleece. Research Work. The problems surrounding wool production were of a most extensive nature, said Mr Waters when relating some of the work which was being carried out at Palmerston North. They could not be attempted by two or three men. At the Massey College there was a team of ten men engaged in different research projects and the work of each interdigitated. When they started at the Massey College over three years ago they were confronted with a task of such magnitude that they were at loss to know where to commence. However, they were now well started and already certain discoveries had been made. On the 800 acres at the. Massey College there were several different, flocks of sheep which were being used for experimental purposes in the research work in wool. One man was experimenting with foot-rot and endeavouring to ascertain whether or not there was such a thing as susceptibility to this complaint. Another was engaged in the study of the tick and their effects on the animal and the wool. In order to measure the growth of I he wools different dyes had been selected which would not bleach or wash off the wool and the speaker showed a lock of wool which was dyed in this manner. The dyeing technique worked out enabled the change in growth rate in response to certain feeding and other conditions to be accurately gauged. Effect of Shearing. One of tho experiments carried out was to ascertain whether shearing had a detrimental effect on the fleece, whether it helped to produce hairy tip

or otherwise modified the growth. In order to test tho effect several sheep had been shorn forward and aft leaving a band of double, fleece round the centre of the body. Thus it was hoped to show what were the effects of shearing by comparison with the result when the fleece had not been shorn. Colour Defects in Wool. A greenish discolouration in wool was exhibited and it was explained that this defect had definitely been shown to be due to tho activities of bacteria when conditions of temperature and humidity were favourable to their development. Specimens of wool affected by the “pink” rot of wool were shown. This was definitely a rot which set in on the backs of living sheep. Microscopic preparations thrown on the screen showed clearly how the fibres of the fleece were disintegrating into their constituent cells. Bacteria had been found associated in enormous numbers with this condition. Another wool defect—much more common—had also received considerable attention. This was known as “cakey yolk.” There again bacteria seemed to be playing a prominent part. Tho outstanding trouble in this case was that the wool became stained so deeply that it was impossible to remove it by ordin ary industrial methods. A successful scouring method had been devised and this method was shortly to be tried out on commercial lines. Mr Waters regretted that Professor Peren was unable to be present. Professor Peren had now been absent some weeks in Australia where he was mak ing inquiries into tho wool research work in progress there—making contact with the institutions engaged in this work. It was of immense advantage that wool research workers throughout the Empire should be fully apprised of one another’s discoveries Mr Waters concluded by thanking the secretary of the Association and other officers for the most courteous reception that had been extended to them.